SciPost Submission Page

Exciton dissociation in organic solar cells: An embedded charge transfer state model

by Jouda Jemaa Khabthani, Khouloud Chika, Alexandre Perrin, Didier Mayou

Submission summary

Authors (as registered SciPost users):

Khouloud Chika

Abstract

Organic solar cells are a promising avenue for renewable energy, and our study introduces a comprehensive model to investigate exciton dissociation processes at the donor-acceptor interface. Examining quantum efficiency and emitted phonons in the charge transfer state (CTS), we explore scenarios like variations of the environment beyond the CTS and repulsive/attractive potentials. The donor-acceptor interface significantly influences the injection process, with minimal impact from the environment beyond the CTS. Attractive potentials can create localized electron states at the interface, below the acceptor band, without necessarily hampering a good injection at higher energies. Exploring different recombination processes, including acceptor-side and donor-side recombination, presents distinct phases in the energy-injection versus recombination rate. Our study highlights the important role of the type of recombination in determining the quantum efficiency and the existence of hot or cold charge transfer states. Finally, depending on the initial energy of the electron on the donor side, three distinct injection regimes are exhibited. The present model should be helpful for optimizing organic photovoltaic cell interfaces, highlighting the critical parameter interplay for enhanced performance.

Author indications on fulfilling journal expectations

• Provide a novel and synergetic link between different research areas.
• Open a new pathway in an existing or a new research direction, with clear potential for multi-pronged follow-up work
• Detail a groundbreaking theoretical/experimental/computational discovery
• Present a breakthrough on a previously-identified and long-standing research stumbling block