Theme: Toward next-generation organic solar cells that are efficient, low-cost and environmentally friendly
Speaker: Henry Yan, Professor
Host: Ye Zhou, Research Scientist
Time: 17:00, January 8th, 2019
Location: Conference Room 201, Building of Basic Experiment Phase 1,  South Campus of SZU  

Talk Abstract:

The difficulty in controlling the morphology is the biggest bottleneck for the development of organic solar cells. A method for forming an ideal macromolecular - fullerene film topography is proposed, which makes the polymer have higher crystallinity and smaller phase separation scale. This method has been used to develop more than ten material systems, with with the photoelectric conversion efficiency exceeding 10% and the highest efficiency reaching 11.7%, breaking the world record in the field of organic solar cells. An organic solar cell system based on non-fullerene receptors was also discovered. The charge separation driving force of this system is basically zero, but the charge separation is fast and efficient. For the first time, the non-fullerene system achieved 9.5% photoelectric conversion efficiency and nearly 90% internal quantum conversion efficiency, while only 0.55V voltage loss was maintained. The realization of this system indicates that organic solar cells may eventually break through the efficiency of 18-20%, creating a new phase of the development of organic solar cells.

About the Speaker:

Prof. Henry Yan is currently an Associate Professor in Department of Chemistry, HKUST. Prof. Yan’s research mainly focuses on the design and synthesis of organic/polymer materials for highly efficient organic solar cells. Before joining HKUST, Prof. Yan and his research group in Polyera Corporation reported the first high-mobility n-type semiconducting polymer in Nature and the work was referred to as the “new transistor age” on the cover page of Nature. His group has also produced some of the most efficient polymer solar cells between 2008-2011. Prof. Yan got his BSc degree from Peking University in 2000, followed by a PhD degree (supervisor: Professor Tobin J. Marks) from Northwestern University in 2004. Prof. Yan received School Teaching Award in 2016 and School Research Award in 2015 in appreciation of his excellent performance in teaching and research. He also received IDTechEx Printed Electronics Best Organic Material Award on behalf of PolyeraTeam in 2010, and Flexi Award for R&D from FlexTech in 2011. Prof Yan also serves as Editorial Advisory Board of “Organic Photonics and Photovoltaics” by Versita-Springer.