Theoretical Analysis of Prospects of Organic Photovoltaics as a Multi-Functional Solar Cell and Laser Power Converter for Wireless Power Transfer

Abstract

Few reports have researched on utilization of laser power conversion systems for wireless power transfer in aeronautical applications. III–V compound semiconductors are commonly used as photovoltaic (PV) power converters in the previous studies. We propose the prospects of using organic absorbers as PV power converters. For laser power conversion to be applied for portable devices, the PV module should be easily processable, thin, low-weight, and printable on flexible substrates. Organic PVs provide all the above advantages, and thus, could serve as a potential candidate for laser power harvesting applications. Moreover, they can also be made transparent, which could be utilized in power harvesting lamination coatings and windows. We had simulated the possibility of using single-junction and tandem photovoltaic structures for 670 nm and 850 nm laser power harvesting. FDTD simulations were conducted to optimize the PV structure in order to maximize the absorption at the laser wavelengths. A maximum PCE of 16.17% for single-junction PV and 24.85% for tandem PV was theoretically obtained.