Scalable Semi-transparent Organic Photovoltaics

Organic photovoltaics (OPVs) are an emerging thin film solar technology based on organic semiconductors. OPVs are promising due to their potential for solution processability, low temperature manufacture, and tuneable absorption. The latter of these allows for semi-transparent OPVs (STOPVs), meaning visible light can be transmitted whilst electricity is still generated. STOPVs have huge potential for building integrated PV, power generating windows, and other architectural and industrial applications.

Here we will discuss our project based on scalable STOPVs, as part of a collaboration between the University of Manchester and Manchester based company Contra Vision. Work so far includes preliminary transfer-matrix modelling work evaluating different active layer components and top electrodes; dilute donor compositions for tuning light utilisation efficiency; and exploration of a variety of charge transport layers towards a fully printed OPV stack.