journal article·2016-06Open access

Deep blue energy harvest photovoltaic switching by heptazole-based organic Schottky diode circuits

Junyeong Lee, Syed Raza Ali Raza, Pyo Jin Jeon, Jin Sung Kim, Seongil Im

NPG Asia Materials· Volume 8· Issue 6

Abstract

We report novel photovoltaic (PV) switching based on the low exciton-binding energy property of an organic heptazole (C26H16N2) thin film after fabrication of an heptazole-based Schottky diode. The Schottky diode cell displayed an instantaneous voltage of 0.3 V as an open circuit voltage (VOC) owing to the work function difference between the Schottky and ohmic electrode under deep blue illumination. Four tandem diode cells therefore produced ~1.2 V. As a PV diode circuit can be formed using an even number of diodes, a photo-excited charge accumulation takes place, generating VOC in the central electrode of the tandem diode array by illuminating one half of the array. An electron–hole recombination then also takes place in that electrode by illuminating the other half, making the VOC decrease to 0 V. Utilizing this charge accumulation and recombination under deep blue illumination, we successfully demonstrated quite fast PV optical switching, logic gating and, ultimately, the gate switching of an organic field-effect transistor. We therefore concluded that our self-powered PV-induced switching was novel and promising enough to open a new door for energy harvest-related device applications in organics. Photovoltaic switching in organic thin films has been realized by a team in Korea. The photovoltaic effect is virtually synonymous with light harvesting using solar-cell technology, but researchers have now demonstrated another application of it — self-powered switching. Seongil Im of Yonsei University in Seoul and co-workers made Schottky diode cells that exploit the low exciton-binding energy of thin films made from heptazole (C26H16N2). Under deep-blue illumination, the cells generated a voltage of 0.3 volts. Furthermore, they exhibited relatively fast photovoltaic switching, logic gating and gate switching of an organic field-effect transistor. The team anticipates that this self-powered switching could be used for detection of ultraviolet and visible light, wireless healthcare devices and powerless communication. It is especially suited for devices designed to protect the eyes from ultraviolet light. Photovoltaic switching in organic heptazole Schottky diode circuits is successfully implemented under dynamic illumination. Blue energetic photons generate electron–hole pairs, and instantaneous voltage of 0.3 V is produced that is multiplied by tandem diode structure. Using the photovoltaic effects, NOT, OR and AND logics are demonstrated without any electric power.
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Research context

OpenAlex topics: Organic Electronics and Photovoltaics · Conducting polymers and applications · Perovskite Materials and Applications

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