Joint Research Group Hybride MaterialSystems

Inorganic-organic hybrid systems

Within the framework of POF III in the next generation Solar Cells, the research group "Molecular Systems" is dedicated to organic-inorganic hybrid systems for photovoltaics.

The combination of the outstanding absorption properties of organic materials with the good charge transport properties of inorganic semiconductors is to be used in highly efficient hybrid solar cells. The electronic structure of the organic-inorganic interface is of utmost importance and needs to be optimized.

This interface is the active layer of charge carrier generation and its surface area should be as large as possible (Fig. 1a). In cooperation with the Institute for Silicon Photovoltaics (E-IS), ZnO nanoscale columns (Fig. 1b) are grown and hybrid solar cells are produced.

The task of optimizing all interfaces in a solar cell and finding the optimum combination from the multitude of available systems is very complex. Within the framework of the Helmholtz Energy Alliance "Hybrid Photovoltaics" coordinated by the HZB, with the participation of Forschungszentrum Jülich, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Universität Potsdam and Freie Universität Berlin, this topic is now being researched on a broad front. This bundles the competencies of the various research groups in order to achieve the optimal hybrid solar cell in a targeted manner.

(a) Different interfacial concepts for hybrid solar cells with nanoparticles, nanoparticles, nanopods and nanoscale columns. (b) Scanning electron microscope image of ZnO nanoscale columns.