Organic photovoltaics (OPV) is fast emerging potential renewable, lightweight, large area and low-cost solar cell technology. Recently, the power-conversion efficiency of state-of-the-art in polymer solar cells (PSCs) has exceeded 9% and further enhancements in the efficiency towards 10% (the threshold for commercial applications) are required. Current international R&D efforts in OPV are focussed towards developing high efficiency and stable devices with both conventional and inverted solar cell configurations based on donor :acceptor bulk heterojunction concept using the soluble polymers/small molecules (electron donors) and modified fullerenes (electron acceptor) in combination with suitable interface layers. OPV group at CSIR-NPL is a very active, vibrant and internationally known centre and is carrying out R&D work on above two approaches by way of addressing the fundamental and applied facets of organic materials and devices and have already achieved efficiency in excess of 6% under CSIR TAPSUN solar energy initiative.

R&D activities

The R&D activities in our group is concentrate on device fabrication for solar cell based on polymers, hybrid polymer inorganic nano-structure, quantum dots and small molecule semiconductors: studies of hole transport layer (HTL), electron transport layer (ETL), photovoltaics, nanoscale characterization, Impedance spectroscopy and optimization of buffer layer etc. for the development of efficient stable solar cell. Other R&D activities are solution route for synthesis of various metal oxide as buffer layers, in situ synthesis of semiconductor nanoparticles in polymer matrix to modify the active layer for solar cells and nanocrystalline semiconductors by colloidal route

Recently, our group has started R&D work on design and synthesis of donor and acceptor materials for organic solar cell to improve the PCE and lifetime of the devices. Major activities in this are : a) Synthesis and characterizations of donor-acceptor polymers and small molecules; b) Synthesis of fullerene based new acceptor molecules; c) electrochemistry.

In essence the activities of OHSC group are classified in two categories as mentioned below.

1. OPV Material development

2. OPV Device Development

OHSC Team

Facilities:

Contact

Dr. Suresh Chand

Head

Physics of Energy Harvesting Division

Organic and Hybrid Solar Cell Group

Organic and Inorganic LEDs Group

CSIR-National Physical Laboratory

Dr. K. S. Krishnan Road, New Delhi 110 012, INDIA

Phone: +91 4560 9202/ 9353

Fax: +91-11-4560-9310

E-mail: schand@mail.nplindia.org