Zhengzhou University researchers have developed a game-changing polymer that achieves nearly 20% efficiency in organic solar cells (OSCs) at a fraction of the cost of existing materials. This leap could make lightweight, flexible solar power commercially viable, rivaling silicon panels.
It could transform lab experiments to mainstream energy solutions
Organic solar cells (OSCs) have long promised affordable, flexible energy solutions but struggled with efficiency and cost. Zhengzhou University’s new polymer, PTQ15, changes the game, achieving a certified 19.96% power-conversion efficiency, the highest for low-cost organic materials.
Costing $35,528 per kilogram—about one-fifth of premium polymers like PM6 and D18, which exceed $200,000/kg—PTQ15 is synthesized in a streamlined three to four-step process with over 80% yield, slashing production expenses.
Paired with acceptors K1/K6, PTQ15 enables OSCs with ultrafast 1.40-picosecond charge transfer and a mere 0.190 eV non-radiative energy loss, ensuring efficient energy conversion with minimal heat waste. Remarkably, devices processed in open-air conditions at 25% humidity retained 19.37% efficiency, proving robustness for real-world manufacturing. At an estimated $0.36 per watt, PTQ15-based OSCs are nearing the cost-effectiveness of silicon photovoltaics.
The lightweight, flexible nature of OSCs makes them ideal for applications like portable chargers and building-integrated photovoltaics. Researchers aim to cross the 20% efficiency threshold by optimizing donor-acceptor pairings and film morphology, potentially unlocking mass-market adoption.
If successful, PTQ15 could transform OSCs from lab experiments to mainstream energy solutions, offering a cheaper, greener alternative to traditional solar panels. Will this polymer spark a solar revolution? Ongoing refinements will tell.
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