OPV is the abbreviation of "Organic Photovoltaics", also known as "organic solar cell". It is a solar cell technology that uses organic semiconductor materials to convert light energy into electrical energy. Unlike traditional silicon solar cells, OPV solar cells use organic compounds rather than inorganic materials to capture photons and generate electricity.
OPV-IoT refers to application technology that combines organic photovoltaic technology with Internet of Things technology. In this case, OPV technology will provide energy for IoT devices to drive or charge them. This combination can bring some unique advantages to the Internet of Things, especially in low-light conditions, dark environments that require wireless communication and long-term operation.
Organic Solar Cell
Compared with some other photovoltaic technologies, organic photovoltaic (OPV) technology is more suitable for converting electrical energy in low-light environments for three main reasons:
1. Broad spectrum absorption
OPV materials can absorb a broad spectrum of light, including visible light and near-infrared light. This means they are able to capture a wide range of wavelengths in low-light conditions. Some other technologies have more limited spectral absorption capabilities and do not work well in low-light environments.
2. Low light startup ability
OPV technology has low-light start capability, which means it can start generating electricity even in low-light conditions. This is due to the lower light threshold required to initiate the photovoltaic process. In comparison, other technical routes require higher light intensity to start generating electricity.
3. Flexibility and portability
OPV equipment is generally flexible and lightweight, making it suitable for a wide range of applications. They can be integrated into devices of various shapes and used on flexible substrates, which allows them to adapt to different surfaces and shapes. This flexibility is beneficial in low-light indoor environments where traditional rigid solar panels may not be suitable.
OPV technology harvests power in the darkest conditions, such as in warehouses or "black light" factories, and works with as little as 500 lux per unit area. For reference, everyday outdoor light is close to 10,000 lux.
Development and research status of organic photovoltaics
According to data from the China Photovoltaic Industry Association, China's photovoltaic industry will achieve steady growth in 2021. The output of polysilicon, silicon wafers, cells and modules reached 505,000 tons, 227 GW, 198 GW and 182 GW respectively year-on-year, an increase of 28.8%, 40.7%, 46.9% and 46.1% respectively. The output value of these four compounds exceeded 7500 billion. At the same time, industrial concentration has further increased. In the four major fields of polysilicon, silicon wafers, cells, and components, the top five manufacturing companies accounted for 86.7%, 84%, 53.9%, and 63.4% of the total domestic output respectively. The top five companies have obvious economies of scale.
As for organic photovoltaics, the analysis of Zhiyanzhan Industry Research Institute believes that the global organic photovoltaic market is expected to continue to maintain strong growth in the next few years. However, at present, the market size is relatively small, accounting for only a small part of the solar energy market.
Why is the market size of organic photovoltaics still small?
In 2021, an analysis by Dr. Li Tengfei from the Department of Materials Science and Engineering, School of Engineering, Peking University, and his tutor Professor Zhan Xiaowei mentioned that organic photovoltaics have the following problems:
First, the photovoltaic efficiency is low. The efficiency of organic photovoltaics currently on the market is generally lower than 20%;
Second, the cost of industrialization is high, and the cost of active layer and motor materials is relatively high;
Third, the component life is low. From the stability results, it can be seen that the service life of the device is difficult to reach more than 10 years.
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