Improving the Efficiency of Organic Thin Film Photovoltaic Cells

Abstract

Organic photovoltaic (OPV) cells are advanced, newly emerging technologies that are lightweight, mechanically flexible devices with high-throughput processes from low cost material in a variety of colors. Rathnayake et al. of Western Kentucky University have developed a nanostructure-based OPV cell.   Presented in this work is a model and simulation of a generalized PV powered system that can predict the performance of solar arrays in various environmental conditions. The simulation has been carried out in Matlab/Simulink, and upon entering the cell’s parameters, it provides key electrical characteristics such as the cell’s I-V curve and efficiency information. The total system that is simulated consists of three elements: a universal two-cell solar array that can account for partial shading and manufacturing variation, a current-controlled power converter, and an energy storage device with charging and discharging capabilities.