Solartrap

SolarTrap focus on the theoretical and experimental studies for the light manipulation in organic semiconductors. During the last decade, thin layers of organic semiconductors have attracted steadily increasing research interest, especially a cheap and easy fabrication of high-performance photo-voltaic devices, light-emitting diodes and photodiodes appear possible. Further, organic semiconductors are characterized by their optical and electrical properties and can be applied over large areas in addition these thin films are mechanically very flexible.

In the present development of organic light-emitting diodes (OLED) and solar cells (OSC), improving the efficiency, prolonging the lifetime of components and reducing the material and production costs are in focus of efforts. The efficiency of OSCs and OLEDs is determined inter alia by the so-called internal quantum efficiency and optical losses. To improve this situation, various nanostructures have been proposed which lead to a better in- or out-coupling of light into the OSCs or OLEDs. Despite the advances in the field of light-management using nanostructures, the manipulation of light in organic films with the aid of metamaterials or plasmonic structures is a major challenge and far from being understood.

In the SolarTrap project, new structures are to be examined, which will lead to an increased absorption of photons in the photoactive layer of the solar cell. For this purpose, silica coated star shaped gold nanoparticles, structures which enable the surface enhanced “up”-conversion and so-called metastructures are investigated. The SolarTrap project focuses on the correlation of the different light-management methods for different solar cell structures with the efficiency of light coupling and energy conversion. The detailed studies may allow conclusions on the limiting factors of the individual concepts. As a light-emitting diode acts like an inverse solar cell, the obtained results can be applied to OLEDs.

The combined theoretical and experimental studies within the project will not only entail to new concepts for light-management, but also to a better modelling of the optical and electrical properties of organic solar cells and may lead to novel of photo-detectors and light-emitting diodes.

Publications:    
Metamaterials 2015: Optical characterization of large area metamaterials fabricated using UV-based nanoimprint lithography; M.J. Haslinger, J. Danzbergere, T.A. Klar, C. Hrelescu, I Bergmair; oral submitted
Nanometa 2015: Plasmonic Mode Coupling in a Nanoimprinted Metamaterial; Lin Dong , Michael Haslinger , Calin Hrelescu , Jürgen Danzberger, Iris Bergmair and Thomas A. Klar; poster

Project Name:    
Manipulation and modification of sunlight in organic solar cells

Funding:    
e!MISSION.at – 4.Ausschreibung

Duration:    
01.05.2014 – 30.04.2017