High-performance hybrid cell based on an organic photovoltaic device and a direct current piezoelectric nanogenerator

• The serially integrated hybrid cell (s-HC) was synergistically enhanced using a PNG.
• Power generation mechanisms in the fabricated s-HC are discussed.
• Electrons from the organic solar cell flow through the PNG leading to an increase of the Jsc.
• The DC outputs from the s-HC offer a high efficient output without rectification diodes.

The search for harvesting both the mechanical and solar energies from a single hybrid system is of significant value and represents a new trend in energy harvesting technologies. This single hybrid system can utilize both the energy sources easily available from nature and most importantly it is clean and sustainable. It is a novel technique involving completely different physical principles utilized for scavenging different types of energies. This report presents studies of a hybrid power generator made a direct-current piezoelectric nanogenerator based on ZnO nanosheets and a bulk heterojunction organic solar cell based on an inverted structure. The device shows much larger electric power output compared to its two individual power output components, which facilitates more effective multi-type energies harvesting and clarifies a mechanism for realizing multi-functional energy devices.

Here we report the fabrication of a hybrid system consisting of a highly efficient direct current (DC) type piezoelectric nanogenerator (PNG) based on two-dimensional ZnO nanosheets and an organic solar cell (OSC) based on poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT) and [6,6]-phenyl-C61-butyric acid methyl ester (PC60BM) for harvesting multiple type energies, i.e. solar energy and mechanical energy simultaneously/individually. We also demonstrate the high DC output current from the PNG cell under vertical compressive force/pressure and high output performance from an OSC separately under light illumination. Our approach relies on the connection of the anode of the OSC with the cathode of PNG to harvest solar and mechanical energy under external mechanical force and light illumination. The power-generating performance of the serially integrated hybrid cell (s-HC) is synergistically enhanced by the contribution of a PNG, compared with the output power generated independently from the solar cell component under illumination. The mechanisms of power generation from our fabricated s-HC and corresponding synergetic effect are discussed in detail in light of band bending and piezoelectric polarization. Our work provides a promising approach for harvesting multi-type energies more effectively and a mechanism for realizing multi-functional energy devices.Figure optionsDownload as PowerPoint slide