Organic electronics is an emerging field that employs organic materials to create electronic devices, such are organic solar cells (OSCs). Similar to other organic electronics—such as OLEDs—OSCs are comprised of solution-processed, carbon-based materials with tailored optoelectronic properties. For OSCs, this makes them a highly suitable technology for versatile applications.

Carbon-Based

Flexible and durable materials

Unlike traditional electronics which use inorganic materials such as silicon, organic electronics such as OSCs use carbon-based materials, such as polymers and small molecules. Inorganic materials have high long-range structural order, resulting in material layers which are fragile and rigid. However, carbon-based molecules are smaller and can "slide” around each other. This makes organic electronics inherently much more flexible and durable then traditional electronics.

Solution Processed

Low thermal budget, high throughput, and low waste materials and manufacturing

Traditionally, the manufacturing of solar panels require exorbitant temperatures (>1000 C), are made from top-down manufacturing techniques resulting in high material waste, and are processed with high vacuum equipment which is energy intensive and highly rate-limiting. These processing methods are required to achieve the crystallinity and purity necessary for inorganic solar cells.

Organic solar cells are made through emerging novel materials and manufacturing methods which offer several advantages over other traditional fabrication techniques. Most notably, these the organic solar cell materials and devices can be made through solution processing. Solution processing is a bottom-up material and device production method which occurs at low temperatures (< 200 C) and ambient pressures. Materials used to make a solar cell device are dispersible in solvents and form a liquid "ink” which is printed onto substrates through continuous roll-to-roll manufacturing. As solvents from the ink evaporate, a film of the active organic material is remains. This process enables the rapid throughput of generating produce large-area films.

Tailored Properties

Colorful or transparent, indoor light harvesting, and lightweight

The optical properties of solar cell materials make-or-break the performance of a device. While traditional silicon solar materials are excellent semi-conductors, the optical properties of silicon are inherently not ideal for solar cell applications. This results in thick layers of silicon being needed to absorb light, making traditional roof solar panels heavy.

On the other hand, the structure of organic materials can be tailored for optimal light absorption. This allows for significantly less material to be needed, making OSCs overall very lightweight. Additionally, tailoring the optical properties of OSCs enables devices to be effective in low light conditions and is why some OSC devices can be found to have vibrant colors or are transparent.

In being carbon-based, solution-processed, and have tailorable properties, OSCs can boast that they are flexible, lightweight, and optimized for light harvesting. This makes OSCs suitable for a wide range of applications (i.e., windows for BIPV, printed onto fabrics, portable and indoor charging of devices).
Today, OSCs have yet to see significant market penetration. However, other organic electronics which have the same advantages are being used in commercial products, such as OLED televisions and flexible displays.

With ongoing research and development, organic solar cells such as Power Bloom Solar's are poised to transform the energy industry in the coming years.