Spins for Efficient Photovoltaic Devices based on Organic Molecules

Project Information

SEPOMO

Grant agreement ID: 722651

DOI

10.3030/722651

Project closed

EC signature date 2 December 2016

Start date 1 November 2016

End date 30 April 2021

Funded under

• EXCELLENT SCIENCE - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions

Total cost

€ 3 823 988,75

EU contribution

€ 3 823 988,75

Coordinated by

RIJKSUNIVERSITEIT GRONINGEN
Netherlands

Periodic Reporting for period 2 - SEPOMO (Spins for Efficient Photovoltaic Devices based on Organic Molecules)

Reporting period: 2018-11-01 to 2021-04-30

Summary of the context and overall objectives of the project

Organic solar cells have the potential to become an environmental friendly, inexpensive, large area and flexible photovoltaics technology. Their main advantages are low process temperatures, the potential for very low cost due to abundant materials and scalable processing, and the possibility of producing flexible devices on plastic substrates. To improve their commercialization capacity and to complement other renewable energy technologies, the performance of state-of-the-art organic solar cells needs to be further improved.

Our goals within ITN SEPOMO – Spins in Efficient Photovoltaic devices based on Organic Molecules – have been to bring the performance of organic solar cells forward by taking advantage of the so far unexplored degree of freedom of photogenerated species in organic materials, their spin. This challenging idea has provided a unified platform for the recruitment and training of 16 talented Early Stage Researchers for a career in science and technology and to promote the world-wide position of Europe in the field of organic photovoltaics and electronics. Our scientific objectives have been to develop several novel routes to enhance the efficiency of organic solar cells by understanding and exploiting the electronic spin interactions.

Work performed from the beginning of the project to the end of the period covered by the report and main results achieved so far

In SEPOMO, 16 Early Stage Researchers have received cutting edge research training in chemistry, physics, materials science and engineering, with a focus on organic electronics involving the innovative use of spin-effects to the advantage of organic solar cells.

Scientifically, researchers in SEPOMO have developed a new and rapid approach combining machine learning, device modelling and experimental characterization, going all the way from synthesis to device characterization. SEPOMO researchers have provided a perspective on the first progress made in organic- and perovskite-based spintronics, and have built new connections between these two classes of materials by highlighting the pros and cons of each technology, and their potential applications in new multifunctional spintronic devices. Furthermore, the quantification of the open-voltage losses of key Heliatek materials led to a change in assessing the potential of new materials, new targets and design strategies. SEPOMO researchers have prepared modules with commercially available organic blends by slot die roll-to-roll with fullerene and non-fullerene acceptors, and identified the photooxidation of the donor polymer as the main cause for the decrease in the module performance. Finally, SEPOMO researchers have demonstrated the potential of the photon upconversion to better utilize the red/IR radiation.

In total, 51 scientific articles have been published in which SEPOMO researchers are (co-)author(s).

Progress beyond the state of the art and expected potential impact (including the socio-economic impact and the wider societal implications of the project so far)

SEPOMO has delivered the first pan-European doctoral training program on organic electronics involving the innovative use of spin-effects. The active role of industry brought a special focus on industrialization issues of the new excitonic device concepts and the general possibility of its up scaling.

In SEPOMO, 16 talented researchers have built specific expertise in the field of current and emerging solar technologies, including experience in how to approach overriding challenges in photovoltaics research from an interdisciplinary and intersectoral perspective. This unique education has given them a strong competitive edge in starting a successful career in academia or industry: several SEPOMO researchers have found a postdoctoral research position at prestigious institutes across Europe, while others have found a (research) position in industry.

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