Sungkyunkwan University research offers design guidelines for organic solar cells

A Sungkyunkwan University research team has analyzed an ultrafast process through which electricity is generated in organic solar cells, offering design guidelines for developing more efficient materials. The university said Monday that the team, led by chemistry professors Kim Tae-yeon and Ko Doo-hyun, conducted the analysis, providing insights for the development of higher-performance solar cell materials. Organic solar cells are a next-generation clean energy technology prized for their flexibility and transparency. The silicon solar panels commonly seen on rooftops are heavy and rigid. Organic solar cells, by contrast, use lightweight, thin films that can be bent and shaped, making them a promising technology that could be integrated into windows or even clothing. More recently, non-fullerene acceptors have emerged as a new class of materials that can significantly improve the efficiency of converting sunlight into electricity. However, exactly how electricity is generated in these materials at the moment they absorb sunlight has remained uncertain. To unravel this mystery, the researc