Spectral Engineering: The Key to High-Performance Semitransparent Organic Photovoltaics

With the rapid development of organic photovoltaics (OPVs) in recent years, they are getting closer to industrialization. Semitransparency is a unique feature of OPVs, thus semitransparent OPVs (STOPVs) are regarded as one of the most promising directions for industrialization. However, there is a contradiction between the power conversion efficiency and visible transparency of STOPVs, as well as the need to further optimize the specific wavelength transmission and color index for practical applications. Spectral engineering is of high significance to solve the above issues. In this perspective, the recent research progress on spectral engineering for STOPVs from the views of material design, active layer engineering, and optical management is systematically summarized. The potential applications that utilize the different spectral features of STOPVs in agriculture, buildings, vehicles, and floating photovoltaics are introduced. Challenges and future research directions that promote the commercialization of STOPVs are also proposed.

Automated summary

With the rapid development of organic photovoltaics (OPVs) in recent years, semitransparent OPVs (STOPVs) are considered as one of the most promising directions for industrialization. However, there is a contradiction between the power conversion efficiency and visible transparency of STOPVs, which can be solved through spectral engineering. This perspective summarizes the recent research progress on spectral engineering for STOPVs and introduces potential applications in agriculture, buildings, vehicles, and floating photovoltaics, offering insights into the challenges and future research directions for the commercialization of STOPVs.