Bandgap matching strategy for organic photovoltaic cells in oceanic applications

Abstract

With the development of aquatic monitoring in oceanic science and environmental protection via tens of thousands of electronic detectors and sensors, the exploitation of energy supply technology for such off-grid electronic devices in ocean informatics is an urgent issue to be addressed. In particular, researchers are seeking alternative candidates to supply power to devices connected to the internet of things in oceanic conditions with diverse light intensities. Herein, we report the potential of organic photovoltaic materials in oceanic applications. The wide-bandgap PM6:IO-4Cl cell achieves a champion efficiency of 23.11% at a sea depth of 5 m because of film absorption spectrum matching with photons passing through the body of water. This work confirms the potential of wide-bandgap organic materials in oceanic photovoltaic applications. • The potential of OPV devices in oceanic applications is evaluated • PM6:IO-4Cl device achieves 23.11% PCE at an ocean depth of 5 m • We confirm the superiority of wide-bandgap organic materials in oceanic OPV devices Efficient energy supply for electronic devices for ocean informatics is becoming increasingly important. In this work, Yang and co-authors find that wide-bandgap organic solar cells based on the PM6:IO-4Cl cell achieve a champion efficiency of 23.11% at a sea depth of 5 m because of an effective bandgap-matched absorption.