Simulation-assisted optimization and upscaling of organic photovoltaics: From small cells to large-area modules

Basu R, Gumpert F, Lohbreier J, Wachsmuth J, Karahan A, Bibrack M, Forberich K, Egelhaaf HJ, Distler A, Brabec C (2026)

Publication Type: Journal article

Publication year: 2026

Journal

Joule Elsevier

Article Number: 102398

DOI: 10.1016/j.joule.2026.102398

Abstract

In this work, we present the systematic upscaling of fully solution-processed poly[(2,6-(4,8-bis(5-(2-ethylhexyl-3-fluoro)thiophen-2-yl)-benzo[1,2-b:4,5-b′]dithiophene))-alt-(5,5-(1′,3′-di-2-thienyl-5′,7′-bis(2-ethylhexyl)benzo[1′,2′-c:4′,5′-c′] dithiophene-4,8-dione)] (PM6):2,2′-((2Z,2′Z)-((12,13-bis(2-butyloctyl)-3,9-diundecyl-12,13-dihydro-[1,2,5]thiadiazolo[3,4e]thieno [2″,3″:4′,5′]thieno[2′,3′:4,5]pyrrolo[3,2-g]thieno[2′,3′:4,5]thieno[3,2-b]indole-2,10-diyl)bis(methanylylidene))bis(5,6-difluoro-3-oxo-2,3-dihydro-1H-indene-2,1-diylidene))dimalononitrile (Y6-C12):[6,6]-phenyl-C61-butyric acid methyl ester (PC61BM) devices processed in ambient air from non-halogenated solvents by a scalable blade-coating process. The developed layer stack contains a silver nanowire top electrode and provides excellent light stability, with 88.4% power conversion efficiency (PCE) retention after 2,530 h of illumination and an extrapolated T80 lifetime of >20,000 h. Computer simulation-assisted stack and layout optimizations lead to 1 cm² champion cell efficiencies of 15.9% with evaporated silver (opaque) and 11.5% with silver nanowires (semitransparent). Finite element method (FEM) simulations were used to optimize the layout of the large-area modules by minimizing inevitable losses caused by the electrodes’ resistivity and inactive interconnect areas. Finally, fully printed, semitransparent modules with a champion PCE of 9.8% on >200 cm² (10.3% on active area) are demonstrated.

Authors with CRIS profile

Robin Basu Institute Materials for Electronics and Energy Technology (i-MEET) Josua Wachsmuth Institute Materials for Electronics and Energy Technology (i-MEET) Max Bibrack Institute Materials for Electronics and Energy Technology (i-MEET) Hans-Joachim Egelhaaf Institute Materials for Electronics and Energy Technology (i-MEET) Andreas Distler Institute Materials for Electronics and Energy Technology (i-MEET) Christoph Brabec Institute Materials for Electronics and Energy Technology (i-MEET)

Involved external institutions

Technische Hochschule Nürnberg "Georg Simon Ohm" DE Germany (DE) Forschungszentrum Jülich / Research Centre Jülich (FZJ) DE Germany (DE)

How to cite

APA:

Basu, R., Gumpert, F., Lohbreier, J., Wachsmuth, J., Karahan, A., Bibrack, M.,... Brabec, C. (2026). Simulation-assisted optimization and upscaling of organic photovoltaics: From small cells to large-area modules. Joule. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.joule.2026.102398

MLA:

Basu, Robin, et al. "Simulation-assisted optimization and upscaling of organic photovoltaics: From small cells to large-area modules." Joule (2026).

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