Design rules for semi-transparent organic tandem solar cells for window integration

For window integration of semi-transparent solar cells in living and working areas, color neutral transparency perception and good color rendering are of pivotal importance. In order to tune the optical device properties, we simulate a parallel tandem configuration with two different absorber materials. Within a regime of convenient transparency perception, the transparency can be adjusted between 20% and 40% by choosing the right absorber layer thickness combination. From the optical field in the tandem devices we calculate the charge carrier generation profile and subsequently correlate the optical properties with the electrical device properties as derived from drift- diffusion modelling - altogether allowing for a comprehensive assessment of the transparency, the transparency perception and the device performance and their interdependencies. (C) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.