Scientists at the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems ISE and the Materials Research Center FMF at the University of Freiburg have improved on their record for a 1 cm2 organic solar cell announced in September 2020. With an efficiency of 15.8%, the new solar cell once again sets the world record in this category.
Organic solar cells have many advantages: they can be produced without the use of heavy metals and other critical elements, are lightweight, mechanically flexible, can be integrated very easily and have a homogeneous appearance even with a semi-transparent design. By selecting organic semiconductors that only absorb infrared light, transparent solar cells can be developed for windows and agricultural protective films or greenhouse glass, which can combine utility values such as protection against storms and overheating with relevant electricity generation. Several important development steps are still required before the product is ready.
