Title: Absorbance and thermal diffusion characteristics of charged ion in organic photovoltaic solar cell

Authors: Manasseh B. Shitta; Emmanuel O.B. Ogedengbe; Marc A. Rosen

Addresses: Energhx Research Group, 353 Faculty of Engineering, Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Lagos, Akoka-Yaba, Lagos, 101017, Nigeria; National Centre for Energy Efficiency and Conservation, Faculty of Engineering, University of Lagos, Akoka, Lagos, Nigeria ' Energhx Research Group, 353 Faculty of Engineering, Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Lagos, Akoka-Yaba, Lagos, 101017, Nigeria ' Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science, University of Ontario Institute of Technology, 2000 Simcoe Street North, Oshawa, Ontario, L1H 7K4, Canada

Abstract: An M.pudica-based organic solar cell model is developed for experimental investigation of UV light absorptivity within ethyl acetate and ethanol mixtures in order to predict charged ion mobility within a network of microchannels. A two-dimensional simulation of energy transport with a finite volume formulation is adopted, where the back field effect on the wafering technology and the optimisation of the energy conversion within the M.pudica-based organic solar cell can be investigated. A significant contribution of this study is the inclusion of the material characterisation of M.pudica as a potential source of energy supply. The developed model is proposed for performance improvement in the design of the organic solar cell. With a variety of imposed boundary conditions, the scalar transport variables and their responses to the environment are studied. The temperature specified on the faces with Dirichlet boundary condition is 100°C. The result of the surface temperature diffusion is presented. The temperature that diffuses into the cell layer ranges from 30°C to 77°C, suggesting a temperature range for manufacturing of the organic solar cell.

Keywords: charge ions; modelling; organic photovoltaics; electrokinetic transport; M. pudica; Mimosa pudica; photosynthetics; absorbance; thermal diffusion; organic solar cells; solar energy; solar power; UV light absorptivity; ethyl acetate; ethanol mixtures; microchannels; simulation; energy transport; finite volume method; back field effect; wafering technology; energy conversion.

DOI: 10.1504/IJPSE.2015.075109

International Journal of Process Systems Engineering, 2015 Vol.3 No.4, pp.248 - 267

Received: 17 Sep 2014
Accepted: 10 Jun 2015

Published online: 03 Mar 2016 *

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