Heliatek R&D teams reached a record conversion efficiency of 13.2% for an OPV multi-junction cell, setting a new world record for the direct conversion of sunlight into electricity using organic photovoltaic cells. The measurement was independently confirmed by Fraunhofer CSP.
Thanks to the low light and high temperature behavior of the organic semiconductor, the electricity generation of the newly developed cells corresponds to the output of conventional solar cells with 16 to 17% efficiency when both are under real world conditions.
According to Dr. Martin Pfeiffer, CTO of Heliatek: “Key to this success is the close cooperation of our physics and chemistry R&D teams, which leads to an optimal combination of the properties of this new solar cell design.”
The world-record cell is a multi-junction cell combining three different absorbers. Each of them is dedicated to convert green-, red- or near-infrared light of the wavelength range between 450 and 950 nm into electricity. These absorber molecules have been developed and are patented by Heliatek.
The new record efficiency was measured at simulated AM 1.5 illumination and was confirmed by the Fraunhofer – Center for Silizium-Photovoltaik – CSP in Halle, a recognized center for independent verification of solar cell performance results under standard testing conditions.
