Integration of organic photovoltaic and thermoelectric hybrid module for energy harvesting applications

Abstract

A new energy harvesting hybrid device that operates selectively in photovoltaic (PV) mode or thermoelectric (TE) mode has been proposed, and successfully fabricated using organic materials. Here, while keeping the TE properties comparable to the best data ever reported, PV properties have been improved dramatically, and the electrical properties of PV/TE hybrid cells with organic materials are reported for the first time. Also, organic hybrid modules on flexible films were fabricated, and this new technology would pave the way for new energy harvesting applications.