Symposium B

Stability and degradation of polymer and organic solar cells

Organizer: Frederik C. Krebs (Risų National Laboratory for Sustainable Energy, Technical University of Denmark)

Evening 26 may 2010 (18 to 20 h)

Polymer and organic solar cells have exhibited a rapid and convincing improvement in both operation stability and shelf lifetime. Both these factors have been the major obstacle for the successful application of the devices in real life applications. The current state-of-the-art allows for roll-to-roll manufacture of polymer solar cells in high volume with stability sufficient to grant success in applications and demonstrations that are emerging. In order to improve the technology and the possibilities detailed knowledge of how these devices break down, methods to study failure mechanism and methods to study, compare and standardize device stability are urgently needed. This special symposium will address these topics through short lectures, demonstrations of polymer solar cells and a floor discussion moderated through a panel.

The panelists and short introductory talk:

• Kion Norrman (Risų DTU), Chairman
• Dana Olson (NREL), short talk: Effect of metal oxides on OPV stability
• Hans-Joachim Egelhaaf (Konarka), short talk: Pathways of oxygen induced degradation of inverted organic solar cells
• Morten V. Madsen (Risų DTU), short talk: Oxygen and water degradation of roll-to-roll coated polymer solar cells

Topics which might be discussed during the floor discussion include:

• Chemical and physical degradation mechanisms
• Photochemical reactions in the active layer and at interfaces
• Methods to study degradation mechanisms
• Advances in testing of stability