article · Heliyon
Organic solar cells currently exhibit power conversion efficiencies around 20 percent, which remains below ideal theoretical limits. Mathematical expressions were established and simulations conducted to determine how critical operational and physical variables influence open circuit voltage and resulting power conversion efficiency. The assessed factors comprise temperature, illumination intensity, recombination, charge carrier density, mobility ratios, and reverse saturation currents. Simulations indicate that open circuit voltage could theoretically achieve roughly 2.34 V when light intensity, charge carrier density at 10 to the power of 18 per cubic centimetre, mobility ratios of 10, and temperatures of 320 K are kept optimal. Recombination negatively affects open circuit voltage. When evaluated under specific conditions, including a power intensity input of 6.578 watts per square metre and a fill factor of 0.89, power conversion efficiency reaches 20 percent at 0.63 V and could reach a theoretical 37 percent at 1.0 V.
Organic solar cells offer potential as alternative energy technologies, but their practical performance remains restricted. By establishing the mathematical boundaries and optimal operating conditions that govern voltage and efficiency, this research outlines theoretical ceilings. Understanding which physical parameters most limit power conversion assists researchers in identifying focal points for addressing energy loss in organic photovoltaic systems.
This work represents early-stage, theoretical simulation research aimed at informing future photovoltaic development. The models identify optimal physical parameters that organic solar cell manufacturers and material developers could target to enhance device efficiency. However, the abstract does not indicate physical fabrication, testing, or a direct industrial application pathway.
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This paper investigates the influence of different parameters on the open circuit voltage of an organic solar cell (OSC) and how the open circuit voltage impacts the cell's power conversion efficiency. These parameters include temperature, light intensity, recombination, charge carrier density, charge carrier mobility ratio, and the reverse saturation current. Organic solar cells' power conversion efficiency is still far from ideal and is currently about 20 %. In the approach, mathematical expressions governing these parameters are established and simulations are then performed in which all other parameters are held at their optimal values and one parameter of interest is varied within a predetermined range. It is shown that the open circuit voltage (V oc ) can theoretically reach a value of about 2.34 V if the following parameters are maintained optimal: light intensity, charge-carrier density (1 × 10 18 cm −3 ), charge carrier mobility ratio (10) and cell temperature (320 K). It is shown that the open circuit voltage (V oc ) is negatively impacted by recombination (up to 30 Ω). Lastly, the power conversion efficiency is predicted to be 20 % at 0.63 V and can reach a theoretical value of 37 % at a V oc of 1.0 V, at a power intensity input of 6.578 w/m 2 , and a fill factor of 0.89 (max for silicon).
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DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2025.e42684
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