New All-Organic Solar Cells Achieve a Photovoltaic Conversion Efficiency of 8.7%
May 7, 2025 – In recent advancements, a collaboration between Kanazawa University in Japan and Queen’s University in Kingston, Canada, has led to the development of a new all-organic solar cell that boasts a remarkable photovoltaic conversion efficiency of 8.7%. This innovation marks a significant improvement compared to previous research.
According to a press release from Kanazawa University, conventional silicon-based solar panels contain harmful metals, leading to high disposal costs once they are no longer in use. In contrast, all-organic solar cells are entirely made of organic materials and do not contain toxic metals, thus significantly reducing environmental costs. This technology is seen as a potentially promising direction in the energy sector. However, all-organic solar cells are still in the research phase, with previous efficiencies only reaching about 4%, which is well below that of silicon solar cells (which can achieve efficiencies of 27%) and perovskite solar cells (with efficiencies up to 26%).
The recent achievement by the research team led by Kanazawa University represents a major step towards the practical application of all-organic solar cells, elevating their efficiency to 8.7%.
The low efficiency of all-organic solar cells can be attributed to two main factors. First, the production of high-conductivity organic electrode materials typically requires the addition of strong acids or bases and high-temperature processing above 150°C, which can damage the organic substrate of the cell. Second, in the manufacturing process of multilayered solar cell devices, it is challenging to stack the thin films layer by layer without damaging the underlying structures. This risk is particularly pronounced when using solution processes, as the formation of upper layers can lead to the dissolution or degradation of the lower layers.
The research team has addressed these challenges by developing new electrode materials and innovative manufacturing techniques. They created a new transparent electrode material based on the conductive polymer PEDOT:PSS, which exhibits sufficient conductivity for solar cell applications. This material can be produced at a temperature of 80°C without the need for acids or bases. Furthermore, the team implemented a “carbon nanotube electrode lamination method,” which involves fabricating the electrode separately before attaching it to the device, thus avoiding the risks associated with traditional solution processes that can damage lower organic films.
The related findings have been published in the journal Advanced Functional Materials. The press release notes that the team plans to further enhance the conductivity of the organic electrodes and the photovoltaic conversion efficiency of the cells in subsequent research. They are also committed to developing lower-cost materials and manufacturing processes. If successful, this new type of all-organic solar cell could become widely adopted, offering a recyclable solar solution with broad application potential.
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