Overview
- Researchers at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University introduced FoMLUE, a dimensionless metric that combines visual transmittance, bandgap and current density to assess photoactive materials for semi-transparent organic photovoltaics.
- Using ternary material systems prioritized by FoMLUE, the team achieved a record 6.05% light utilization efficiency in semi-transparent cells.
- Devices optimized with this approach showed improved operational stability and enhanced thermal-insulation performance compared with prior formulations.
- A transient model applied to 371 Chinese cities found measurable annual energy savings in more than 90% of locations, reaching up to 1.43 GJ per square meter in regions with hot summers and mild winters.
- The peer-reviewed results appear in Nature Communications, and the team plans to extend device lifetime and scale production to larger modules for building-integrated applications, with potential uses in vehicles and greenhouses.