References
Testimonials
“Setfos is both powerful and intuitive, making it an incredible asset for optimizing our OLEDs. The team at Fluxim is excellent in providing support for their users. With Setfos’s accurate modeling capabilities, we have been able to reduce our number of experiments by an order of magnitude, saving tremendously on both the time and costs to commercialization.”
Dr. Jonathan Schrecengost, OLEDWorks
“SETFOS has been a great tool for our OLED and OPV research. It is intuitive to use and has a user-friendly interface that allows new researchers to spin up quickly in device design and modeling. The flexibility to integrate SETFOS with Python and other languages has been especially useful in enabling us to extend our modeling and automate some of our simulation routines. The Fluxim staff are quick to address questions and are proactive in improving and extending the capabilities of SETFOS based on user feedback.”
Prof. Dr. Noel Giebink, Giebink Research Group, University of Michigan
Phelos angle-dependent photoluminescence (PL)/electroluminescence (EL) spectrometer along with Setfos package is a great combination of hardware and software to characterize the orientation of emission transition dipole moment. User-friendly interface and a broad range of parameters, such as polarization angles, position angles, driving current, and J-V parameters to investigate the PL as well as EL characteristics of light-emitting semiconductors. We have extensively used both Phelos and Setfos to understand the quantum emission characteristics of perovskites and organometallic complexes and light-extraction efficiency in PeLEDs and OLEDs. We found these tools allowed fast data acquisition, simulation, and in-depth understanding of emission characteristics of LEDs and OLEDs
Dr. Kumar Sudhir, Nanomaterials Engineering Research Group, Institute for Chemical and Bioengineering, ETH Zürich
“ I highly recommend SETFOS, which I mostly use for simulating and understanding both time (TPV, TPC) and frequency domain (IMVS, IMPS and IS) measurements on perovskite solar cells. The user interface is easy to use and manipulate in combination with the scripting and sweep features, allowing to set up and simulate complex experiments easily. The engineers and scientists at Fluxim also provide excellent support and have been very helpful with any questions and clarifications asked of them.”
Dr Sandheep Ravi Shankar, Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH
In our Energy Harvesting Research Group, we have started using both PAIOS and SETFOS for the characterization of perovskite solar cells very recently. We find both tools very helpful in understanding the device physics of perovskite solar cells and different kinds of charge carrier losses through recombination. The multitude of characterization facilities such as light intensity-dependent J-V, Capacitance-Voltage measurement, transient photovoltaic and transient photocurrent, impedance measurement and charge transport characterization such as SCLC and CELIV all integrated into one set-up is so versatile to give an overview of different loss mechanisms and strength of one device structure over the other. Our research is particularly focussing on indoor photovoltaic development where the carrier management is stringent due to the low intensity and low carrier concentration. We have found PAIOS an excellent supportive tool to enhance our research.
I would like to specifically mention the technical service the Fluxim team is providing, starting the very first discussion with the team. The technical and scientific support they are providing is highly commendable and the Fluxim team is the world best in device physics and genuinely supporting others’ research.
Dr Lethy Krishnan Jagadamma, Leader of the Energy Harvesting Research Group, University of St Andrews, UK
Setfos is a great simulation software for OLED designs. The user interface is intuitive to use, and the graphical presentation of the simulation results is well done. We find the quantification of optical modes and determination of their dispersion particularly useful. It allows us to optimize the OLED structure with a few clicks, and the results are in good agreement with experimental data. Setfos saved us a tremendous amount of time to model our nanostructured OLEDs. It is truly a powerful tool for our OLED research.
Prof. Franky So, North Carolina State University, United States
“We have extensively used both SETOS and LAOSS in our recent endeavour to model large-area OPV and OLED devices. The intuitive workflow of both software packages allows us to quickly try out new ideas before realising them experimentally.“
Dr Ardalan Armin, Ser-SAM group, Department of physics, Swansea University
The software Setfos is an outstanding program for assisting in the development of OLED displays. It provides the predictive capabilities, and physical insight into the optical performance that is needed to optimise your design. It's a fast and powerful package that a user will immediately benefit from.
Dr. Ian Parker, Materials Development Manager DuPont Displays, Santa Barbara, USA
Paios and Setfos have been an asset to our research capability in CSIRO Energy and a key tool in our research and assessment of next generation thin-film photovoltaics, in particular, organic and perovskite solar cells. One of the key points of differentiation – and a clear attraction – has been the flexibility of the system and the ease in which user-defined experiments can be created. Our Team has appreciated the interaction with Fluxim and realised this has been much more than a transactional experience – we’ve formed a real partnership between developers and researchers.
Dr Gregory J. Wilson, Research Group Leader, CSIRO Energy, Newcastle, Australia
The setfos software is a fundamental optical simulation tool for the development of highly efficient OLED structures. New features of this software like including several different emission zones are of major importance for developing efficient white light OLED structures containing more than one emitting material. The flexibility, speed, and reliability of this software combined with its huge variety of simulation tools concerning various physical key quantities like angular dependence, color coordinates, or reflection spectra allow further improvement and basic insight of OLEDs.
Dr. Jan Blochwitz-Nimoth CTO Novaled AG, Dresden, Germany
As an advanced optical simulation software, Setfos provides great opportunities for researching optical features both in light-emitting diodes (LEDs) and solar cells. The operation of Setfos is quite clear and easy. Moreover, it gives us useful physical insights of light manipulation when we design our optoelectronic devices. Our experimental data and theoretical analysis have been well demonstrated via simply modelling and computing with Setfos. It is truly a recommendable tool for studying LEDs and solar cells.
Prof. Dr. Jianxin Tang, Soochow University, Suzhou, China
As an OLED researcher, I am very thankful for the Fluxim tools we have in our Group at ZHAW. Thanks to Paios and Phelos I can characterize my OLEDs in various regimes, such as transient, frequency, or steady-state and angle-dependent, and this all by just a few clicks. Thanks to the simulation software Setfos I can set up an electro-optical device model to reproduce the experimental data, which helps me to understand better the physics inside the OLED. Knowing the emission zone or the charge carrier distribution of an OLED can give you hints on efficiency or lifetime improvements.
Dr. Markus Regnat, ZHAW School of Engineering, Switzerland
Setfos is a very powerful simulation tool developed by Fluxim predominantly in the field of OLED and OPV researches. We are heavily dependent on this simulation tool regarding our research activities in OLED and OPV as evident in our publications. Setfos not only helps us in optimizing the device structures prior to device fabrication experimentally but also assists in analyzing the device physics through the simulation on the contribution of the various optical modes in the device as well as estimating the important parameters such as color co-ordinates, angular dependence, reflection and transmission co-efficient etc. Undoubtedly, Setfos takes an important role in the progress OLED and OPV researches.
Prof. Shun-Wei Liu, Department of Electronic Engineering & Organic Electronic Research Center, Ming Chi University of Technology, Taiwan
Setfos is a great product for researchers who want to simulate the performance of organic solar cells without having to design and build custom simulation software. By licensing Setfos, we were able to quickly answer many research questions and publish results in a matter of months.
Jon Bartelt, Stanford University, Stanford CA, USA
The software Setfos is an efficient design and simulation tool for Organic LEDs and Solar Cells. Our post graduate and PhD scholars are using it and found it useful for their research work in related areas. I have no hesitation in recommending it to faculty & students for their research work.
Dr. Rajesh Mehra, Head of Electronics & Communication Engineering Department, National Institute of Technical Teachers' Training & Research
At the Holst Centre, in the OLED Lighting program, the setfos modeling tool has proven its worth by enabling accurate predictions of light emission from OLEDs on glass, plastic and metal substrates. I have experienced firsthand that this sophisticated and user-friendly software package can be used to interpret measurements and extract the relevant parameters efficiently. Such information is essential in order to improve light emission from novel OLED device designs. Fluxim also provides excellent customer support by hosting annual workshops, providing assistance whenever requested and by inquiring what features are considered valuable and essential.
Dr. Stephan Harkema, Senior Researcher, Holst Centre / TNO, Eindhoven, the Netherlands
I have used setfos extensively to investigate the emission zone in polymer light-emitting diodes and electrochemical cells. The speed, reliability, and flexibility of this software make it ideal for a wide range of applications, particularly in the optimization of device structures or in the fundamental research of device physics.
Dr. Janelle Leger University of California Santa Cruz, USA
Setfos is a very convenient tool to be used to predict the optical and electrical outcome from OLED and OPV devices. It also shows a physical insight of the charge transport properties in organic electronic system. The user interface is friendly, and it is an ideal tool for optimization of organic device structures.
Dr. Ng Ging-Meng, Research Staff Member, Institute of Materials Research & Engineering (IMRE), A*STAR, Singapore
“I'm using Setfos from more than 8 years now. It's really an essential tool we're using each days.
We are using it to :
- design OLED stacks, taking into account emitter intrinsic spectra, n&k transport and blocking layers
- each time we need to adjust OLED optical cavity
The software is really user friendly. We are not using the electrical addon but maybe it could be interesting too.
Dr. Benoit Dugrenil, Ingénieur R&D OLED, Microoled
Publications: Recent Solar Cell Research Performed with Setfos
View 250+ papers published with Setfos and all our research tools
Zhu, J., Huang, X., Luo, Y. et al. Nat Commu, 240 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-024-55492-4
Researchers from institutions in China, including Sichuan University, Fujian Normal University, and Xiamen University, have developed new self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) for more efficient perovskite solar cells. The SAMs, named MBT, EBT, and MEBT, are based on a donor-acceptor molecule with different length oligoether side chains. These SAMs act as hole-selective contacts (HSCs), improving charge extraction and reducing defects in Sn-Pb perovskite films. Specifically, EBT led to a 23.54% efficiency in single-junction cells and 28.61% in all-perovskite tandem solar cells. The improved performance is attributed to the enhanced perovskite film quality, reduced non-radiative losses and superior hole extraction
PAIOS system was used to perform Mott-Schottky plots and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) measurements. These measurements are used to characterize the electrical properties of the solar cells.
• Mott-Schottky plots are used to determine the built-in potential of the solar cell, which is related to the driving force for charge separation.
• EIS measurements can reveal information about charge transport and recombination processes within the device. In the context of the study, the EIS results corroborate the suppressed non-radiative recombination losses, that were also shown in other tests.
Edoardo Stanzani, Stefano Sem, Simon Züfle, Beat Ruhstaller, Sandra Jenatsch,
Organic Electronics, Volume 139, 2025, 107204, ISSN 1566-1199,
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.orgel.2025.107204.
This research by the Fluxim research team investigates the degradation mechanisms of thermally activated delayed fluorescence (TADF) organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs). By combining experimental measurements with device simulations, the study identifies the formation of hole and electron traps at the HTL/EML interface as the primary cause of efficiency reduction. The researchers pinpoint hole traps within the hole transport layer (HTL) as the main contributor to the OLED's decreased performance. Their findings provide crucial insights into improving the operational stability of TADF OLEDs, a technology currently limited by its insufficient lifetime. The study uses a variety of techniques to analyse the degradation, including capacitance-voltage measurements and current-voltage characterisation. The ultimate aim is to improve the lifespan of OLED devices for use in commercial displays.
Tian, J., Liu, C., Forberich, K. et al.Nat Commun, 154 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-024-55376-7
This research demonstrates a new approach to optimising the interconnection layer (ICL) in perovskite-organic tandem solar cells (P-O-TSCs) by replacing MoOx with PEDOT:F. This results in smaller, more uniform gold nanoparticles (Au NPs) that reduce light absorption, enhancing device performance. SETFOS was used for drift-diffusion simulations to understand charge transport. A record efficiency of 25.34% was achieved.
Aeberhard, U., Zeder, S.J. and Ruhstaller, B. (2024), Sol. RRL, 8: 2400264. https://doi.org/10.1002/solr.202400264
Our Research team at FLUXiM investigated the performance enhancements in all-perovskite tandem solar cells resulting from photon recycling (PR) and luminescent coupling (LC).
The study employs a comprehensive computational approach, combining both optical and full opto-electronic simulations using Setfos.
Optical processes are modeled using a Green function formalism to account for wave optical effects. At the same time, the full opto-electronic simulations integrate a drift-diffusion model to reflect realistic charge transport, including losses due to mobile ions and non-radiative recombination.
Key findings indicate that PR substantially impacts device performance more than LC, particularly when the tandem cells are close to current matching. LC becomes more relevant in bottom-limited configurations, and its effect is amplified by the voltage increase in the top cell due to PR.
The research also identifies significant parasitic absorption in charge transport and electrode layers, which detracts from the benefits of PR and LC. Despite these losses, the overall performance improvement remains finite, suggesting that further optimization of these devices is possible.
This detailed analysis, which incorporates electrical loss channels, provides insights that enable the full opto-electronic optimization of all-perovskite tandem solar cells, enhancing their efficiency and practical applicability in the field of photovoltaics.
Aeberhard, U., Natsch, N., Schneider, A., Zeder, S.J., Carrillo-Nuñez, H., Blülle, B. and Ruhstaller, B. (2024),
Sol. RRL 2400492.
https://doi.org/10.1002/solr.202400492
This research paper examines reverse-bias breakdown in all-perovskite tandem solar cells, particularly under partial shading conditions, and highlights how nonuniform active area quality, such as variations in mobile ion concentration, can impact their performance. The study uses a multi-scale simulation approach to demonstrate that an increase in mobile ion density significantly reduces the breakdown voltage and can lead to localized current hot spots in large-area modules. The authors suggest that these hot spots, caused by fluctuating mobile ion concentration, are potential degradation centers in the solar cells. They also suggest further investigation into factors like unintentional doping and additional breakdown mechanisms to better understand and improve the performance of these solar cells.
How SETFOS Was Used to Study Reverse-Bias Breakdown
The authors of the research paper use the device simulation tool SETFOS to perform cell-level simulations on all-perovskite tandem solar cells. Here's a breakdown of its role:
Drift-diffusion Simulation: SETFOS is used to simulate the behavior of charge carriers within the solar cell under a large reverse-bias voltage. This helps researchers visualize the band profile, or the energy levels of electrons within the device's various layers.
Mobile Ion Consideration: The simulations in SETFOS incorporate the effects of mobile ions within the perovskite layer, a crucial aspect that influences the breakdown voltage.
Coupling with Quantum Transport Simulation: The data from SETFOS, including the band profile and quasi-Fermi levels, are then used as input for a separate quantum transport simulation tool, PVnegf. This allows for a microscopic examination of the tunneling breakdown current.
Iterative Analysis: The tunnel generation rates, calculated in PVnegf, are fed back into SETFOS. This iterative process, with information exchanged between SETFOS and PVnegf, continues until the tunneling current converges, providing an accurate representation of the breakdown phenomenon.
Generating JV Curves: Through this coupled simulation approach, SETFOS ultimately helps generate current density-voltage (JV) curves for the all-perovskite tandem solar cell, even under reverse-bias conditions. These JV curves are essential for understanding how the device performs near its breakdown voltage.
In summary, SETFOS acts as the foundation for the cell-level simulations, providing crucial data about charge transport and mobile ion behavior, which is then combined with quantum transport calculations to comprehensively study reverse-bias breakdown in all-perovskite tandem solar cells.
Using Laoss to Simulate Large-Area Solar Module Behavior
The authors use Laoss, a large-area thin-film electronics modeling tool, to understand how the performance variations observed at the cell level translate to the behavior of a complete solar module12.
Here's a breakdown of its use:
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Quasi-3D Module Simulation: Laoss enables a "2D+1D" simulation approach, treating the top and bottom electrodes with a 2D finite element method (FEM) while using a 1D coupling law to represent the vertical current flow through the active area of the solar cells within the module3.
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Incorporating Cell-Level Data: The JV curves generated in SETFOS, which incorporate the effects of varying mobile ion densities and reverse-bias breakdown, are used as input for Laoss1. These curves act as the local 1D coupling law within the module simulation, linking the 2D electrode simulations3.
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Module Design and Interconnection: The researchers incorporate design parameters of a real all-perovskite tandem module into the Laoss simulation. These parameters, taken from a previously calibrated model4, include sheet resistances of electrodes, scribe line geometries for monolithic interconnection, and the Ohmic properties of the P2 scribe2.
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Spatial Resolution: Laoss simulates a 10 cm x 10 cm module with a spatial resolution of 3 x 30 pixels per cell stripe, totaling 900 pixels. Each pixel is randomly assigned a JV curve based on a Gaussian distribution of mobile ion concentrations, representing real-world variations in manufacturing2.
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Partial Shading Analysis: The study simulates both full and partial shading conditions on a single cell stripe within the module using Laoss5. This allows the authors to observe how variations in mobile ion density (and thus, breakdown voltage) at the pixel level affect current flow and hot spot formation under these conditions6.
In essence, Laoss allows the researchers to scale up their analysis from the behavior of individual solar cells to a complete module, taking into account the realistic variations in properties and the effects of partial shading. This multi-scale approach, linking the detailed device physics simulated in SETFOS to the module-level performance predicted by Laoss, provides a powerful tool for understanding and mitigating potential degradation mechanisms in all-perovskite tandem solar cells.
Simon J. Zeder, Balthasar Blülle, Beat Ruhstaller, and Urs Aeberhard, Opt. Express 32, 34154-34171 (2024)
https://doi.org/10.1364/OE.522953
This paper presents a multiscale optical model developed to accurately quantify photon recycling (PR) and luminescent coupling (LC) in optoelectronic devices such as solar cells and LEDs. Photon recycling, the process of photon emission, re-absorption, and re-emission, can significantly enhance device efficiency, particularly in materials like GaAs, metal halide perovskites and even crystalline silicon. To accurately account for re-absorption effects, the model treats light absorption and emission equally, considering the full spectrum of internal modes within the device. This approach stands out from conventional methods, which focus solely on exterior-coupled modes.
The framework integrates two key propagation models:
Coherent Wave-Optical Model: Applied to thin-film layers where light interference effects are significant, avoiding unphysical divergencies for emitters embedded in absorbing media and ensuring consistency with detailed balance principles.
Incoherent Ray-Optical Model: Used for optically thick layers where coherence is lost, treating phase relations as irrelevant.
The model also accounts for light scattering at textured surfaces, essential for devices like perovskite –silicon tandem solar cells. By merging these approaches, the paper provides a robust framework for computing local emission, re-absorption, and energy flux rates in devices with complex structures. Importantly, this allows for a detailed understanding of the impact of photon recycling on device performance, including enhanced external quantum efficiency (EQE) in LEDs and increased open-circuit voltages in solar cells.
The model is validated through comparisons with analytical solutions, showing excellent agreement, and applied to a textured perovskite solar cell showcasing its capabilities. This validation confirms that the model can reliably be applied to real-world devices, offering a powerful tool for optimizing the performance of next-generation optoelectronic systems.
Key Takeaways:
∙ Comprehensive multiscale approach merging coherent and incoherent light models.
∙ Applicability to complex textured devices like perovskite solar cells and LEDs.
∙ Quantification of local re-absorption and energy flux rates.
∙ Validation through comparison with analytical solutions.
Aeberhard, U., Zeder, S.J. and Ruhstaller, B. (2024), Sol. RRL, 8: 2400264. https://doi.org/10.1002/solr.202400264
Our Research team at FLUXiM investigated the performance enhancements in all-perovskite tandem solar cells resulting from photon recycling (PR) and luminescent coupling (LC).
The study employs a comprehensive computational approach, combining both optical and full opto-electronic simulations using Setfos.
Optical processes are modeled using a Green function formalism to account for wave optical effects. At the same time, the full opto-electronic simulations integrate a drift-diffusion model to reflect realistic charge transport, including losses due to mobile ions and non-radiative recombination.
Key findings indicate that PR substantially impacts device performance more than LC, particularly when the tandem cells are close to current matching. LC becomes more relevant in bottom-limited configurations, and its effect is amplified by the voltage increase in the top cell due to PR.
The research also identifies significant parasitic absorption in charge transport and electrode layers, which detracts from the benefits of PR and LC. Despite these losses, the overall performance improvement remains finite, suggesting that further optimization of these devices is possible.
This detailed analysis, which incorporates electrical loss channels, provides insights that enable the full opto-electronic optimization of all-perovskite tandem solar cells, enhancing their efficiency and practical applicability in the field of photovoltaics.
Othman, M., Jeangros, Q., Jacobs, D. A., Futscher, M. H., Zeiske, S., Armin, A., Jaffrès, A., Kuba, A. G., Chernyshov, D., Jenatsch, S., Züfle, S., Ruhstaller, B., Tabean, S., Wirtz, T., Eswara, S., Zhao, J., Savenije, T. J., Ballif, C., Wolff, C. M., & Hessler-Wyser, A. (2024). Energy & Environmental Science. The Royal Society of Chemistry.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1039/D4EE00901K
This study investigates the effects of cationic alloying in cesium-formamidinium perovskite films on optoelectronic properties and solar cell performance. It finds that precise Cs+ tuning minimizes structural faults and enhances photoconductivity, with encapsulated devices maintaining 85% of initial efficiency after 1400 hours under continuous illumination, providing insights into defect tolerance and stability mechanisms in perovskite materials.
Fluxim's Research Tools
In the study, Fluxim's Paios system was used for conductivity measurements, and Litos for accelerated aging tests under thermal and photonic stress, evaluating the stability of perovskite solar cells.
Cachafeiro, Miguel A Torre, Naresh Kumar Kumawat, Feng Gao and Wolfgang Tress.
National Science Review (2024): nwae128
https://doi.org/10.1093/nsr/nwae128
The paper investigates the pulsed operation of perovskite LEDs (PeLEDs), focusing on the role of mobile ions in transient electroluminescence. Drift-diffusion simulations demonstrate how mobile ions affect the TrEL signals and device performance, with findings crucial for optimizing PeLED design and function.
How Setfos was used
The Setfos software was used to perform drift-diffusion simulations that modeled the behavior of mobile ions in perovskite LEDs. It analyzed their impact on transient electroluminescence and device performance, helping to elucidate the mechanisms affecting light emission during pulsed operation.
Almora, O., López-Varo, P., Escalante, R., Mohanraj, J., Marsal, L. F., Olthof, S., & Anta, J. A. (2024). arXiv:2402.00439 [physics.app-ph]
https://doi.org/10.48550/arXiv.2402.00439
The paper analyzes degradation in perovskite solar cells using impedance spectroscopy, focusing on NiOx passivation. It identifies how interface treatments influence device performance, with some treatments stabilizing and others inducing degradation. Simulation tools model transport properties to understand these effects.
How Setfos Was Used
Fluxim's Setfos simulation software was employed to model the transport properties and electrical responses of passivated-NiOx perovskite solar cells. This facilitated the understanding of how modifications at the hole transport layer-perovskite interface, due to various passivation methods, impact the cells' performance and operational stability.
Thiesbrummel, J., Shah, S., Gutierrez-Partida, E. et al.
Nat Energy (2024).
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41560-024-01487-w
The study reveals that the dominant factor in the degradation of perovskite solar cells (PSCs) under operational conditions is mobile ion-induced internal field screening, significantly reducing efficiency mainly due to current density reduction, without major bulk or interface quality degradation.
How Setfos was used
Setfos was used to simulate the impact of increasing mobile ion density on PSC performance, demonstrating that higher ion density leads to enhanced internal field screening, reducing charge extraction efficiency and contributing significantly to early degradation losses in PSCs.
Zbinden, O., Knapp, E. and Tress, W. (2024), Sol. RRL 2300999.
https://doi.org/10.1002/solr.202300999
his study demonstrates how machine learning (ML) can pinpoint the parameters limiting efficiency in perovskite solar cells (PSCs) by analyzing current density–voltage curves from simulated devices. Over 11,000 simulated curves, varying 20 physical parameters related to charge transport and recombination, trained ML models to classify limiting parameters with over 80% accuracy. Random Forests showed the best performance, identifying key parameters like short-circuit current density, open-circuit voltage, and fill factor as critical for predictions. Applied to real device data, the model accurately identified efficiency-limiting factors, validating the approach's utility in guiding performance improvements and understanding device behavior, particularly during degradation. This methodology promises significant time and resource savings by reducing trial-and-error in PSC optimization.
How Setfos was Used
Setfos was used to generate about 11,150 current density–voltage (J–V) curves for perovskite solar cells by systematically varying one device parameter at a time, facilitating the training of machine learning algorithms to identify performance-limiting parameters based on these simulations.
Valastro, S., Calogero, G., Smecca, E., Bongiorno, C., Arena, V., Mannino, G., Deretzis, I., Fisicaro, G., La Magna, A. and Alberti, A. (2024), Sol. RRL 2300944.
https://doi.org/10.1002/solr.202300944
The research demonstrates printable carbon-based perovskite solar cells infiltrated with CsPbI3:EuCl3 outperform AVA-MAPbI3 cells, showcasing reduced hysteresis, stable efficiency under continuous light, and notable durability with multiple reusability cycles. Achieving a peak power conversion efficiency of 16.72%, the CsPbI3:EuCl3 variant emerges as a promising candidate for sustainable and efficient photovoltaic technologies, with implications for enhancing the environmental sustainability of solar energy generation
How Setfos was used
Setfos tool was utilized for 1D transient-mode electro-optical simulations of the fabricated mesoporous carbon perovskite solar cells (mC-PSCs), incorporating both anion and cation migration within the active regions. This involved simulating the charge generation profile using the transfer-matrix method, calibrated with wavelength-dependent complex refractive indices of all layers, and coupling it with a drift-diffusion charge transport solver to account for charge trapping, recombination, and ion migration. The simulations aimed to replicate the measured J–V curves' main features, with layer-specific electrical parameters calibrated based on reasonable initial values from literature.
S. Ravishankar, L. Kruppa, S. Jenatsch, G. Yan and Y. Wang, Energy Environ. Sci., 2024,
The paper discusses a novel method for analyzing solar cell operation, focusing on perovskite solar cells (PSCs). It addresses a gap in understanding the equivalence of time-domain and frequency-domain data in solar cell analysis. The study introduces a new approach to extract a previously inaccessible time constant from frequency domain data, which correlates with charge extraction speed in transient measurements. This method is validated through simulations and experimental data, offering a more comprehensive understanding of charge carrier dynamics in solar cells, particularly regarding charge collection efficiency.
How Setfos was used
SETFOS was utilized in the paper for conducting drift-diffusion simulations. These simulations were part of the study's methodology to characterize perovskite solar cells (PSCs) using various techniques, including transient photovoltage (TPV), transient photocurrent (TPC), intensity-modulated photovoltage spectroscopy (IMVS), intensity-modulated photocurrent spectroscopy (IMPS), and impedance spectroscopy (IS)
Elkhouly, K., Goldberg, I., Zhang, X. et al.
Nat. Photon. (2024).
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41566-023-01341-7
Imec's research, published in Nature Photonics, details the creation of a perovskite LED stack that dramatically outshines conventional OLEDs.
The team used Setfos to analyze and optimize the light interactions within the perovskite structure. This approach significantly enhanced the LED's brightness and efficiency. The breakthrough paves the way for high-intensity, thin-film perovskite lasers with potential applications in medical diagnostics, environmental sensing, and advanced imaging, heralding a new era in optoelectronic devices. Setfos was instrumental in achieving the precise architecture needed for this revolutionary leap in light-emitting technology.
S. Alam, H. Aldosari, C. E. Petoukhoff, T. Váry, W. Althobaiti, M. Alqurashi, H. Tang, J. I. Khan, V. Nádaždy, P. Müller-Buschbaum, G. C. Welch, F. Laquai
Adv. Funct. Mater. 2023, 2308076. https://doi.org/10.1002/adfm.202308076
This paper investigates the impact of thermal annealing on PM6:Y6-based organic solar cells, focusing on performance degradation due to structural and morphological changes at elevated temperatures. It finds that VOC and FF significantly decrease with annealing above 140°C due to altered charge transport and extraction.
How Setfos was used
Using SETFOS software, the study simulates device performance, correlating optical-electrical properties with device parameters to understand the degradation mechanisms and guide future improvements.
How Paios was used
Paios was used to measure transient photocurrent, photo-voltage, and charge extraction properties, providing insights into charge generation, recombination, and extraction mechanisms, helping to understand the performance drop at elevated annealing temperatures.
Q. Wang, H. Zhu, Y. Tan, J. Hao, T. Ye, H. Tang, Z. Wang, J. Ma, J. Sun, T. Zhang, F. Zheng, W. Zhang, H. W. Choi, W. C. H. Choy, D. Wu, X. W. Sun, K. Wang. Adv. Mater. 2023, 2305604.
https://doi.org/10.1002/adma.202305604
The paper demonstrates a spin quantum dot light-emitting diode (spin-QLED) using 2D chiral perovskite as a spin injection layer based on the chiral-induced spin selectivity (CISS) effect, enabling spin-dependent carrier transport. It operates at room temperature and zero magnetic field, achieving circularly polarized electroluminescence (CP-EL) with an asymmetric factor of 1.6 × 10^-2. The work highlights the potential of chiral materials in spintronics and quantum-based devices.
How Setfos was used
Setfos simulation was used to analyze the recombination center and carrier recombination rate distribution in the device, providing insights into the performance and guiding future improvements.
Bandgap Tunable Perovskite for Si-Based Triple Junction Tandem Solar Cell: Numerical Analysis-Aided Experimental Investigation
Jia-Ci Jhou, Ashish Gaurav, Hsin-Ting Lin, and Ching-Fuh Lin
ACS Applied Energy Materials 2023 6 (18), 9434-9445
Researchers developed a new technique to fabricate perovskite absorbing layers for multijunction solar cells, achieving a record power conversion efficiency of 26.4%. This technique involves a double-sided sandwich evaporation process that allows for precise control over the halide ratio and B-site doping of the perovskite absorber layers. The resulting triple-junction tandem solar cell exhibits significantly higher efficiency than previous designs.
How Setfos was used.
theoretical insight for the optimal perovskite thickness was gained using Setfos by taking into account the reflection of the bottom cell, so the thickness of the top layers could be reduced.
Warby, J., Shah, S., Thiesbrummel, J., Gutierrez-Partida, E., Lai, H., Alebachew, B., Grischek, M., Yang, F., Lang, F., Albrecht, S., Fu, F., Neher, D., Stolterfoht, M.,
Adv. Energy Mater. 2023, 2303135.
https://doi.org/10.1002/aenm.202303135
This research addresses the discrepancy between open-circuit voltages (VOC) and internal voltages in perovskite solar cells, often attributed to non-radiative recombination losses. The study extends classical theories from silicon solar cells to explain the mismatch through partial resistances/conductivities of carrier types. It also reveals how mobile ions in perovskite cells contribute to this mismatch, explaining phenomena like light soaking and aging-induced VOC losses. These insights offer new perspectives on degradation issues and guide principles for optimizing VOC to enhance perovskite solar cell performance.
How Setfos was used
Band diagram simulation of perovskite cells with ions
Moritz C. Schmidt, Emilio Gutierrez-Partida, Martin Stolterfoht, and Bruno Ehrler
PRX Energy 2, 043011 – Published 13 November 2023
https://doi.org/10.1103/PRXEnergy.2.043011
This study reveals that analyzing capacitance transients in perovskite solar cells is more complex than previously thought. It demonstrates that the direction of these transients is influenced by the cell's layer dominating capacitance modulation, not by the polarity of migrating species. This highlights the significant role of transport layers in characterizing mobile ions in perovskites.
Setfos was used
To investigate the role of the polarity of mobile ions in capacitance measurements the researchers simulated the behavior of the capacitance as a function of time after a voltage pulse. The Drift-Diffusion module in Setfos was used to simulate the capacitance transients.
Juhui Oh, Ju-Hyeon Kim, Yong Ryun Kim, Ardalan Armin, Sanseong Lee, Kiyoung Park, Hongkyu Kang, and Kwanghee Lee
ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces 2023 15 (36), 42802-42810
https://doi.org/10.1021/acsami.3c08028
This research discusses the challenge of balancing transparency and efficiency in transparent organic solar cells (T-OSCs) for smart solar windows. A new tungsten oxide (WO3)-based multilayer top electrode is presented that achieves both high photopic transmittance (46.7%) and power conversion efficiency (7.0%), with superior light utilization and thermal stability. This development offers new directions for creating efficient, transparent solar cells for energy-harvesting windows.
How Setfos was usedSetfos
To predict the transparent OSC performance, optical simulation was conducted with the commercial software Setfos using n and k values obtained from ellipsometry.
Jinno, H., Shivarudraiah, S. B., Asbjörn, R., Vagli, G., Marcato, T., Eickemeyer, F. T., Pfeifer, L., Yokota, T., Someya, T., Shih, C.-J.,
. Adv. Mater. 2023, 2304604.
https://doi.org/10.1002/adma.202304604
This research presents a breakthrough in ultrathin, flexible skin optoelectronics for Internet of Things (IoT) applications. Traditional issues like underperformance due to low polymer process temperatures and spectral distortion from bending are overcome using solution-processed perovskite semiconductors. The study introduces high-efficiency perovskite solar cells and LEDs on polymer films with exceptional thermal stability, achieving record efficiencies (18.2% for solar cells, 15.2 cd A−1 for LEDs) and bending-resistant light emission. This advancement enables reliable, high-performance, self-powered wearables and IoT sensors, demonstrating practical applications such as accurate pulse monitoring at a high selectivity rate.
How Setfos Was used
Finite element analysis for ultraflexible LED was simulated with the Setfos emission module. By expecting the dipole emission model of LED, the module allows to deliver emission spectra of ultraflexible LED with different angle.
Sarmad Feroze, Andreas Distler, Karen Forberich, Iftikhar Ahmed Channa, Bernd Doll, Christoph J. Brabec, Hans-Joachim Egelhaaf,
Solar Energy, Volume 263, 2023, 111894, ISSN 0038-092X,
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.solener.2023.111894
The 2022 global PV installations accounted for 5% of electricity consumption. To reach 2 TWP annually by 2030, leveraging existing urban surfaces is vital. BAPV/BIPV transform buildings into energy producers. Currently dominated by silicon PV modules, the market has underutilized Organic Photovoltaics (OPV), a cost-effective, customizable, and flexible alternative for BIPV applications. This study analyzes OPV's outdoor performance compared to monocrystalline silicon modules, aiming to provide insights for forecasting the annual energy yield of building-integrated OPV modules, advancing OPV technology for BIPV applications.
How Setfos was used
Setfos software by Fluxim AG was used for optical simulations to evaluate absorption in the active layer of the OPV device.
Sandheep Ravishankar, Zhifa Liu, Yueming Wang, Thomas Kirchartz, and Uwe Rau
PRX Energy 2, 033006 – Published 2 August 2023
https://doi.org/10.1103/PRXEnergy.2.033006
Researchers present a model for the frequency and time domain optoelectronic response of perovskite solar cells (PSCs). The model emphasizes the role of charge carrier exchange between the perovskite and the transport layer. The study identifies that the time constants measured in the frequency domain spectra of PSCs are mainly influenced by the charge carrier extraction velocity at the perovskite/transport layer interfaces, rather than recombination. This understanding is crucial for quantifying recombination and resistive losses that impact the performance of the solar cell.
Drift-diffusion simulations are performed using SETFOS developed by Fluxim AG
Jonas Diekmann, Francisco Peña-Camargo, Nurlan Tokmoldin, Jarla Thiesbrummel, Jonathan Warby, Emilio Gutierrez-Partida, Sahil Shah, Dieter Neher, and Martin Stolterfoht
The Journal of Physical Chemistry Letters 2023 14 (18), 4200-4210
DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpclett.3c00530
This scientific article discusses the impact of mobile ions on perovskite photovoltaic devices and the challenges in accurately quantifying mobile ion densities. The study evaluates several experimental methodologies, including charge extraction by linearly increasing voltage (CELIV) and bias-assisted charge extraction (BACE), as well as frequency-dependent capacitance measurements.
The findings show that CELIV underestimates ion density and is not suitable for accurate quantification. BACE, on the other hand, can accurately reproduce ion density as long as it is lower than the electrode charge. The study also demonstrates that low-frequency Mott-Schottky analysis can provide accurate ion density values for high excess ionic densities typical of perovskites. Overall, the methods presented in this study enable accurate tracking of ionic densities in perovskite devices and a deeper understanding of ionic losses and device aging.
How was Setfos Used?
SETFOS was used in this work to simulate the impact of mobile ions on the performance of perovskite solar cells. The parameters related to mobile ions were implemented in the drift-diffusion module of Setfos. This allowed the researchers to include mobile ions in their simulations and recreate the observed JV-hysteresis in the cells over a wide range of scan speeds. The simulations also verified that losses in the performance characteristics of JSC, VOC, and FF could be recreated
Hsieh CA, Tan GH, Chuang YT, Lin HC, Lai PT, Jan PE, Chen BH, Lu CH, Yang SD, Hsiao KY, Lu MY, Chen LY, Lin HW.
Adv Sci (Weinh). 2023 Feb 7:e2206076.
Researchers have significantly improved the efficiency of vacuum-deposited metal halide perovskite light-emitting diodes (PeLEDs) by optimizing the stoichiometric ratio of sublimed precursors and incorporating ultrathin layers. The properties of these perovskite layers are highly influenced by the presence of upper- and presublimed materials, which helps enhance device performance. By eliminating Pb° formation and passivating defects, the PeLEDs achieve an impressive external quantum efficiency (EQE) of 10.9% and up to 21.1% when integrating a light out-coupling structure.
Huo, M.; Hu, Y.; Xue, Q.; Huang, J.; Xie, G.
Molecules 2023, 28, 2145.
https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules28052145
Organic/inorganic hybrid materials, like PVA and TTIP, show excellent optical properties for multilayer antireflection films. With a tunable refractive index & low haze, they achieve high transmittances up to 99.3%. Applied to perovskite solar cells, they boost efficiency from 16.57% to 17.25%.
The hybrid material/CA stack and the hybrid material/PMMA stack were simulated by Setfos.
Aeberhard, U., Zeder, S.J. & Ruhstaller, B.
Opt Quant Electron 54, 617 (2022).
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11082-022-03791-9
The impact of photon recycling on the efciency of light extraction from metal halide perovskite light emitting diodes is quantifed using a novel modelling framework based on a detailed-balance compatible Green dyad approach. Analysis of photon modes contributing to internal emission and iterative evaluation of re-absorption and re-emission processes is performed for single perovskite layers in absence and presence of a metallic refector and under consideration of associated parasitic absorption losses. Finally, the approach is employed to characterize the emission characteristics of a realistic multilayer device stack in dependence of the emitter thickness.
The photon recycling simulation was performed with Setfos.
Salem, M.S.; Shaker, A.; Abouelatta, M.; Saeed, A.
Polymers 2023, 15, 784.
https://doi.org/10.3390/polym15030784
Researchers have designed and analyzed perovskite/organic tandem solar cells (TSCs) using a full optoelectronic simulator (SETFOS).
A lead-free ASnI2Br perovskite top subcell is paired with a DPPEZnP-TBO:PC61BM heterojunction organic bottom subcell, based on previous experimental work. Calibration shows strong agreement between simulation and experimental data.
The optimized tandem cell achieves 14% efficiency with further improvements possible through concurrent optimization and defect reduction. This study provides valuable insights and directions for enhancing lead-free perovskite/organic TSC efficiency.
Pietro Caprioglio, Joel A. Smith, Robert D. J. Oliver, Akash Dasgupta, Saqlain Choudhary, Michael D. Farrar, Alexandra J. Ramadan, Yen-Hung Lin, M. Greyson Christoforo, James M. Ball, Jonas Diekmann, Jarla Thiesbrummel, Karl-Augustin Zaininger, Xinyi Shen, Michael B. Johnston, Dieter Neher, Martin Stolterfoht & Henry J. Snaith
Nat Commun 14, 932 (2023).
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-023-36141-8
Wide-gap perovskites suffers from Voc- and Jsc-deficit, but what's the reason and how to solve it?
Researchers from the groups of professors Henry J. Snaith and Martin Stolterfoht recently demonstrated starting from drift-diffusion simulation studies that a poor band-alignment with the electron transporting layer causes the Voc-deficit, while mobile ions obstacle the charge extraction causing Jsc losses. The voltage losses were solved by inducing the growth of a low-dimensional perovskite with a surface treatment based on guanidinium bromide (GuaBr) or imidazolium bromide (ImBr). To improve the charge extraction, they modified the hole-transporting layer applying an ionic interlayer (TEA-TFSI) or replaced it with self-assembled monolayer (SAM).
They used the simulation software Setfos from Fluxim AG to reveal that the hole-transporting layers enhance the charge extraction by inducing a stronger electric field at the interface with the perovskite.
Li, Y., Wu, X., Zuo, G., Wang, Y., Liu, X., Ma, Y., Li, B., Zhu, X.-H., Wu, H., Qing, J., Hou, L., Cai, W.,
Adv. Funct. Mater. 2022, 2209728.
https://doi.org/10.1002/adfm.202209728
Efficient electron transport layer (ETL) based on a novel n-n heterojunction arrangement for organic photovoltaics (OPV).
The group of Whanzu Cai at the Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Vacuum Coating Technologies and New Energy Materials stacked an n-type conjugated film (PNDIT-F3N) with an n-type small molecule film (Phen-NaDPO) achieving a water-fall like alignment of electron transport energy levels. Devices with the n-n heterojunction ETL showed performance increase of up to 30% compared to control devices based on the isolated PNDIT-F3N or Phen-NaDPO ETLs.
They used the characterization tool Paios to investigate the charge extraction and recombination lifetimes with transient photocurrent (TPC) and transient photovoltage (TPV) measurements, respectively. Both extraction and recombination lifetimes improved by up to 100% for the devices with the n-n heterojunction compared to Phen-NaDPO alone.
van der Pol, T.P.A., Datta, K., Wienk, M.M. and Janssen,
R.A.J. (2022), Sol. RRL, 6: 2200872.
https://doi.org/10.1002/solr.202200872
A modeling approach is developed to correct outcoupled electroluminescence spectra in thin-film organic and perovskite solar cells. The approach takes into account self-absorption, cavity effects, and nonhomogeneous emission profile to yield intrinsic spectrum. The impact of these effects is studied for various device parameters to uncover trends and provide guidelines for a large set of devices.
Optical Modeling: The simulation procedure used here was based on Dyson et al. where the outcoupled spectrum is calculated using Setfos for a 1 nm emitter layer located in the active layer
Weitz, P., Le Corre, V. M., Du, X., Forberich, K., Deibel, C., Brabec, C. J., Heumüller, T.,
Adv. Energy Mater. 2022, 2202564.
https://doi.org/10.1002/aenm.202202564
A method for organic solar cell (OSC) stability testing is presented that aims to provide more unique insight into the causes of degradation patterns of OSCs. The method involves using monochromatic light at high irradiation doses to accelerate isolated degradation mechanisms while monitoring the device with a series of in-situ steady-state and transient electrical measurements.
The experimental results are accompanied by drift-diffusion simulations to localize degradation pathways. PM6:Y6-based OSCs are tested, which are known to show a rather broad range of lifetimes as a function of device architecture, material batches, or degradation conditions. The experiments reveal a degradation mechanism that causes an increased trap-state density inside the PM6:Y6 layer.
The transient simulations suggest that these states are formed at or around the interface between the PM6:Y6 and the electron transport layer. Furthermore, the surprisingly dominant impact of the illuminating wavelength on the degradation pattern is evidenced.
Lastly, the degradation rate of the devices scales linearly with light intensity, making high intensity and spectrally selective degradation the most promising way to accelerate stability testing for the faster development of stable OSCs.
F. Didier, P. Alastuey, M. Tirado, M. Odorico, X. Deschanels, G. Toquer,
Thin Solid Films, Volume 764, 2023, 139614, ISSN 0040-6090,
doi.org/10.1016/j.tsf.2022.139614.
ABSTRACT
Carbon nanotubes (CNTs), deposited by electrophoretic deposition (EPD), are investigated as selective solar absorbers. First, various kinds of CNTs with different aspect ratios, are dispersed by ultrasound in an aqueous solution of pyrocatechol violet (PV). PV couples to the CNT’s outer walls via π-π stacking interactions and acts as a dispersing agent as well as a charging agent. PV adsorption isotherms on CNT combined with N2 physisorption isotherms are performed to optimize the CNT/PV ratio. In this way, Zeta potentials up to -40 mV are obtained for the dispersed CNTs, which are deposited on platinized silicon wafers by EPD, forming a film. The EPD kinetics are then investigated as a function of the applied electric field (in the 8–20 V cm− 1 range) and are explained through a Sarkar & Nicholson model type. X-ray reflectivity is performed to characterize the density around 1.3 g cm− 3 , and film cohesion is probed by nanoindentation coupled to atomic force microscopy images. The hemispherical reflectance of the samples is measured by spectrophotometers equipped with an integrating sphere, and following from spectra, the absorptance (α) and emittance (ԑ) are calculated. The selectivity of the deposits, based on α and ԑ values, is then discussed as a function of the applied electric field and the coating thickness.
Single-walled CNT deposits, at best, are found to have a solar absorptance of 0.91 and thermal emission of 0.05. Thermal annealing experiments reveal that the coatings could withstand up to 300 ◦C while sustaining selective properties and losing only 21% of the initial yield.
The researchers used Setfos to simulate the absorbed radiation and thermal emission of their films.
Salem, M.S.; Shaker, A.; Abouelatta, M.; Saeed, A.
Polymers 2023, 15, 784.
https://doi.org/10.3390/polym15030784
Researchers have designed and analyzed perovskite/organic tandem solar cells (TSCs) using a full optoelectronic simulator (SETFOS).
A lead-free ASnI2Br perovskite top subcell is paired with a DPPEZnP-TBO:PC61BM heterojunction organic bottom subcell, based on previous experimental work. Calibration shows strong agreement between simulation and experimental data.
The optimized tandem cell achieves 14% efficiency with further improvements possible through concurrent optimization and defect reduction. This study provides valuable insights and directions for enhancing lead-free perovskite/organic TSC efficiency.
Pietro Caprioglio, Joel A. Smith, Robert D. J. Oliver, Akash Dasgupta, Saqlain Choudhary, Michael D. Farrar, Alexandra J. Ramadan, Yen-Hung Lin, M. Greyson Christoforo, James M. Ball, Jonas Diekmann, Jarla Thiesbrummel, Karl-Augustin Zaininger, Xinyi Shen, Michael B. Johnston, Dieter Neher, Martin Stolterfoht & Henry J. Snaith
Nat Commun 14, 932 (2023).
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-023-36141-8
Wide-gap perovskites suffers from Voc- and Jsc-deficit, but what's the reason and how to solve it?
Researchers from the groups of professors Henry J. Snaith and Martin Stolterfoht recently demonstrated starting from drift-diffusion simulation studies that a poor band-alignment with the electron transporting layer causes the Voc-deficit, while mobile ions obstacle the charge extraction causing Jsc losses. The voltage losses were solved by inducing the growth of a low-dimensional perovskite with a surface treatment based on guanidinium bromide (GuaBr) or imidazolium bromide (ImBr). To improve the charge extraction, they modified the hole-transporting layer applying an ionic interlayer (TEA-TFSI) or replaced it with self-assembled monolayer (SAM).
They used the simulation software Setfos from Fluxim AG to reveal that the hole-transporting layers enhance the charge extraction by inducing a stronger electric field at the interface with the perovskite.
Chin-Yiu Chan, Masaki Tanaka, Yi-Ting Lee, Yiu-Wing Wong, Hajime Nakanotani, Takuji Hatakeyama, and Chihaya Adachi
Nature Photonics, 15, 203–207, (2021)
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41566-020-00745-z
It is challenging to produce stable blue OLEDs with high efficiency and color purity. The researchers fabricated a new OLED showing pure-blue emission with high efficiency and stability. Their optimized device consists of a 2-unit stacked tandem OLED with a hyperfluorescent emitting layer. Setfos was used to fit angular photoluminescence data and determine the orientation of the dipoles of the TADF emitter.
Vasilopoulou, M., Mohd Yusoff, A.R.b., Daboczi, M. et al.
Nat Commun 12, 4868 (2021).
doi.org/10.1038/s41467-021-25135-z
In this paper, the team designed blue OLEDs with a new Hole Transport Material (HTM). By engineering the formation of exciplex excitons at the EML/ETL interface and subsequent FRET they managed to fabricate OLEDs with high efficiencies and turn-on voltage below band-gap. The device lifetime is longer than previously reported blue OLEDs, even if degradation due to the instability of the excited host molecule (typical in TADF OLEDs) is still an issue.
Setfos was used to help extract the dipole orientation of the TADF emitter from the analysis of angle-dependent PL spectra.
Publications: Recent OLED Research Performed with Setfos
View 250+ papers published with Setfos and all our research tools
Edoardo Stanzani, Stefano Sem, Simon Züfle, Beat Ruhstaller, Sandra Jenatsch,
Organic Electronics, Volume 139, 2025, 107204, ISSN 1566-1199,
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.orgel.2025.107204.
This research by the Fluxim research team investigates the degradation mechanisms of thermally activated delayed fluorescence (TADF) organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs). By combining experimental measurements with device simulations, the study identifies the formation of hole and electron traps at the HTL/EML interface as the primary cause of efficiency reduction. The researchers pinpoint hole traps within the hole transport layer (HTL) as the main contributor to the OLED's decreased performance. Their findings provide crucial insights into improving the operational stability of TADF OLEDs, a technology currently limited by its insufficient lifetime. The study uses a variety of techniques to analyse the degradation, including capacitance-voltage measurements and current-voltage characterisation. The ultimate aim is to improve the lifespan of OLED devices for use in commercial displays.
Lin, M. Y., Li, Q.-T., & Li, Y.-L. (2024).
IEEE Photonics Technology Letters, 36, 1730–1733. https://doi.org/10.1109/LPT.2024.3450713
This study investigates the impact of black matrix (BM) width on the performance of quantum dot full-color displays. The authors use theoretical calculations and simulations to evaluate how BM width affects crosstalk, the aliasing effect, and color gamut. They find that increasing the BM width from 0 nm to 25 nm can eliminate crosstalk between subpixels and significantly reduce the aliasing effect. This leads to a substantial improvement in color gamut, with the display featuring an Ag/ZnO/Ag structure achieving a color gamut ratio of 100.65% Adobe RGB and a coverage of 87.17%. The study highlights the importance of BM width optimization in quantum dot display design for achieving high image quality and wide color gamut. This research is particularly relevant for applications like small panels and head-mounted displays.
How Setfos was used
Setfos was used to model and optimize all of the MIM (metal-insulator-metal) layer models and to calculate the transmitted spectrum for the subpixels with the MIM layer.
Simon J. Zeder, Balthasar Blülle, Beat Ruhstaller, and Urs Aeberhard, Opt. Express 32, 34154-34171 (2024)
https://doi.org/10.1364/OE.522953
This paper presents a multiscale optical model developed to accurately quantify photon recycling (PR) and luminescent coupling (LC) in optoelectronic devices such as solar cells and LEDs. Photon recycling, the process of photon emission, re-absorption, and re-emission, can significantly enhance device efficiency, particularly in materials like GaAs, metal halide perovskites and even crystalline silicon. To accurately account for re-absorption effects, the model treats light absorption and emission equally, considering the full spectrum of internal modes within the device. This approach stands out from conventional methods, which focus solely on exterior-coupled modes.
The framework integrates two key propagation models:
Coherent Wave-Optical Model: Applied to thin-film layers where light interference effects are significant, avoiding unphysical divergencies for emitters embedded in absorbing media and ensuring consistency with detailed balance principles.
Incoherent Ray-Optical Model: Used for optically thick layers where coherence is lost, treating phase relations as irrelevant.
The model also accounts for light scattering at textured surfaces, essential for devices like perovskite –silicon tandem solar cells. By merging these approaches, the paper provides a robust framework for computing local emission, re-absorption, and energy flux rates in devices with complex structures. Importantly, this allows for a detailed understanding of the impact of photon recycling on device performance, including enhanced external quantum efficiency (EQE) in LEDs and increased open-circuit voltages in solar cells.
The model is validated through comparisons with analytical solutions, showing excellent agreement, and applied to a textured perovskite solar cell showcasing its capabilities. This validation confirms that the model can reliably be applied to real-world devices, offering a powerful tool for optimizing the performance of next-generation optoelectronic systems.
Key Takeaways:
∙ Comprehensive multiscale approach merging coherent and incoherent light models.
∙ Applicability to complex textured devices like perovskite solar cells and LEDs.
∙ Quantification of local re-absorption and energy flux rates.
∙ Validation through comparison with analytical solutions.
W.-H. Hu, F. Nüesch, D. Giavazzi, M. Jafarpour, R. Hany, M. Bauer, . Adv. Optical Mater. 2024, 12, 2302105. https://doi.org/10.1002/adom.202302105
This research focuses on using squaraine dyes in single-component shortwave infrared (SWIR) photodiodes and upconversion photodetectors. These devices achieve over 40% external quantum efficiency beyond 1000 nm through field-assisted exciton dissociation. By integrating SWIR photodiodes with organic LEDs, they convert SWIR photons into visible light, offering an alternative to inorganic imaging technologies.
Key Points
Efficient SWIR Detection: Over 40% external quantum efficiency beyond 1000 nm.
Field-Assisted Charge Generation: Enables efficient exciton dissociation.
Upconversion Photodetectors: Combine SWIR photodiodes with OLEDs for visible light emission.
Simplified Fabrication: Single-component layers enhance stability and reduce complexity.
Inorganic Alternative: Potential replacement for existing inorganic SWIR imaging technologies.
How Setfos Was Used
Setfos was employed for optical simulations, analyzing device layer properties using refractive index and extinction coefficient values. These simulations optimized light absorption and exciton generation, crucial for efficient SWIR detection and upconversion.
Cachafeiro, Miguel A Torre, Naresh Kumar Kumawat, Feng Gao and Wolfgang Tress.
National Science Review (2024): nwae128
https://doi.org/10.1093/nsr/nwae128
The paper investigates the pulsed operation of perovskite LEDs (PeLEDs), focusing on the role of mobile ions in transient electroluminescence. Drift-diffusion simulations demonstrate how mobile ions affect the TrEL signals and device performance, with findings crucial for optimizing PeLED design and function.
How Setfos was used
The Setfos software was used to perform drift-diffusion simulations that modeled the behavior of mobile ions in perovskite LEDs. It analyzed their impact on transient electroluminescence and device performance, helping to elucidate the mechanisms affecting light emission during pulsed operation.
A Boron, Nitrogen, and Oxygen Doped π-Extended Helical Pure Blue Multiresonant Thermally Activated Delayed Fluorescent Emitter for Organic Light Emitting Diodes That Shows Fast kRISC Without the Use of Heavy Atoms.
R. W. Weerasinghe, S. Madayanad Suresh, D. Hall, T. Matulaitis, A. M. Z. Slawin, S. Warriner, Y.-T. Lee, C.-Y. Chan, Y. Tsuchiya, E. Zysman-Colman, C. Adachi,
Adv. Mater. 2024, 2402289. https://doi.org/10.1002/adma.202402289
This study presents a boron, nitrogen, and oxygen-doped π-extended helical emitter for OLEDs that emits pure blue light efficiently without heavy metals. It demonstrates fast reverse intersystem crossing and high photoluminescence quantum yield, achieving narrow emission spectra close to the BT.2020 standard.
How Setfos was used
Setfos was used to analyze the orientation of transition dipole moments (TDM) within the films containing the MR-TADF emitter, f-DOABNA. This analysis is crucial for assessing how the TDM are oriented relative to the film surface, which affects the light outcoupling efficiency—a key factor in enhancing the performance of OLED devices.
Specifically, Setfos helped determine the horizontal-dipole ratios of f-DOABNA doped in different host materials. These ratios, varying between values indicative of perfectly horizontal to vertical orientation, provide insight into how efficiently the emitted light can be outcoupled from the OLED device. The results from Setfos showed that the emitter had a significant degree of horizontal alignment, especially in one host material, indicating better light outcoupling efficiency in that configuration.
T. Lee, M. Lee, K. Kim, H. Lee, S.-Y. Yoon, H. Yang, S. Yu, J. Kwak, Adv. Optical Mater. 2024, 2302509.
https://doi.org/10.1002/adom.202302509
This study presents angle-independent top-emitting quantum dot light-emitting diodes (QLEDs) featuring a solution-processed subwavelength scattering–capping layer (SCPL) composed of ZnO nanoparticles. This SCPL enhances light extraction and minimizes angle-dependent color shifts, achieving a 44% improvement in external quantum efficiency without perceivable spectral shifts across viewing angles. The dual functionality of the SCPL, serving both as a capping and scattering layer, introduces a simplified, cost-effective method for fabricating high-performance, angle-stable QLED displays.
How Setfos was used
Setfos was utilized to optimize the microcavity structure of blue-emitting QLEDs by adjusting the thickness of hole transport and electron transport layers, aiming for maximum light extraction efficiency and luminance. The tool's simulations guided the experimental verification of the device's optoelectronic performance, helping to achieve superior efficiency and color stability by precisely controlling the thickness of the scattering–capping layer (SCPL).
E. Benvenuti, A. Lanfranchi, S. Moschetto, M. Natali, M. Angelini, P. Lova, F. Prescimone, V. Ragona, D. Comoretto, M. Prosa, M. Bolognesi and S. Toffanin,
J. Mater. Chem. C, 2024,
This paper presents the development of an all-organic, on-chip integrated system for fluorescence detection, combining organic photodiodes (OPDs), organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs), and a polymeric distributed Bragg reflector (DBR) filter. By integrating these components on a single substrate, the system offers a compact and efficient solution for fluorescence sensing, which is crucial for applications ranging from food safety to environmental monitoring. The use of organic materials allows for low-cost, flexible sensors that can be easily produced and deployed. The paper demonstrates that this integrated approach significantly enhances the optical efficiency and sensitivity of the fluorescence sensor, making it capable of detecting concentrations as low as 9.2 μM of the model dye Rhodamine 700. This advancement represents a significant step towards the development of portable, high-performance sensors for point-of-need applications
How Sefos was used
Setfos was used to design the OLED structure to achieve an efficient and narrow phosphorescent emission, crucial for the integrated fluorescence sensor's performance. The simulation helped in fine-tuning the composition and thickness of the OLED's interlayers, including an organic index matching layer, to enhance light extraction and emission characteristics tailored to the absorption spectrum of the fluorescent dye, Rhodamine 700.
Xu, Ting and Jiang, Haixiao and Dong, Haojie and Zhao, Kele and Liang, Xiao and Sun, Yanqiu and Ding, Lei and meng, lingqiang and Meng, Hong,
Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=4610784
The study presents a novel approach to enhance blue MR-TADF OLEDs' efficiency and color purity using tandem device structures. By employing TBN-TPA as the blue MR-TADF material in tandem OLED devices, narrow-band emission and high color purity were achieved through optical interference and microcavity effects, aligning with BT 2020 standards. This advancement underscores the potential of tandem architectures and MR-TADF emitters in developing high-performance OLEDs with both high efficiency and wide color gamut, suggesting further research in optimizing tandem structures and MR-TADF materials.
How Setfos was used
Setfos software was utilized to simulate optical and electrical characteristics of OLED devices, particularly analyzing spectral enhancements, microcavity effects, and interference within the tandem OLED structures, to predict and understand device performance improvements, including color purity and efficiency.
Elkhouly, K., Goldberg, I., Zhang, X. et al.
Nat. Photon. (2024).
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41566-023-01341-7
Imec's research, published in Nature Photonics, details the creation of a perovskite LED stack that dramatically outshines conventional OLEDs.
The team used Setfos to analyze and optimize the light interactions within the perovskite structure. This approach significantly enhanced the LED's brightness and efficiency. The breakthrough paves the way for high-intensity, thin-film perovskite lasers with potential applications in medical diagnostics, environmental sensing, and advanced imaging, heralding a new era in optoelectronic devices. Setfos was instrumental in achieving the precise architecture needed for this revolutionary leap in light-emitting technology.
Zhang, T., Zhao, F., Liu, P., Tan, Y., Xiao, X., Wang, Z., Wang, W., Wu, D., Sun, X.W., Hao, J., Xing, G. and Wang, K. (2023)
Adv. Photonics Res., 4: 2300146.
https://doi.org/10.1002/adpr.202300146
The paper investigates electron leakage in green InP Quantum-Dot Light-Emitting Diodes (QLEDs), causing carrier imbalance and reduced efficiency. It identifies the Fermi energy difference between green InP/ZnS Quantum Dots and the ITO anode as the main cause.
How Setfos was used
Setfos was used for electrical simulations of recombination rates, helping to understand electron leakage paths and the impact of an ultrathin LiF layer, which ultimately improves device performance by enhancing electron confinement and hole injection.
S. Sasaki, K. Goushi, M. Mamada, S. Miyazaki, K. Miyata, K. Onda, C. Adach Adv. Optical Mater. 2023, 2301924. https://doi.org/10.1002/adom.202301924
The paper explores intramolecular triplet–triplet annihilation (TTU) upconversion in organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) for enhanced electroluminescence efficiency. The study focuses on the intramolecular TTU of anthracene dimers in OLEDs, showing improved electroluminescence efficiency under low dopant concentrations.
How Setfos was used
Setfos was utilized to estimate the out-coupling efficiency of the OLEDs, contributing to the understanding of the TTU process and device optimization.
Q. Wang, H. Zhu, Y. Tan, J. Hao, T. Ye, H. Tang, Z. Wang, J. Ma, J. Sun, T. Zhang, F. Zheng, W. Zhang, H. W. Choi, W. C. H. Choy, D. Wu, X. W. Sun, K. Wang. Adv. Mater. 2023, 2305604.
https://doi.org/10.1002/adma.202305604
The paper demonstrates a spin quantum dot light-emitting diode (spin-QLED) using 2D chiral perovskite as a spin injection layer based on the chiral-induced spin selectivity (CISS) effect, enabling spin-dependent carrier transport. It operates at room temperature and zero magnetic field, achieving circularly polarized electroluminescence (CP-EL) with an asymmetric factor of 1.6 × 10^-2. The work highlights the potential of chiral materials in spintronics and quantum-based devices.
How Setfos was used
Setfos simulation was used to analyze the recombination center and carrier recombination rate distribution in the device, providing insights into the performance and guiding future improvements.
Qi Dong, Liping Zhu, Shichen Yin, Lei Lei, Kenan Gundogdu, and Franky So
ACS Photonics 2023 10 (9), 3342-3349
DOI: 10.1021/acsphotonics.3c00812
Researchers have developed a highly efficient linearly polarized organic LED, capitalizing on the inherent polarization properties of the transverse electric waveguide mode within the device. Utilizing a linear grating, they achieved 67.6% light confinement in this mode, resulting in a polarized LED with a current efficiency of 136 cd/A and a polarization ratio exceeding 30. Further enhancements to current efficiency are possible, making this architecture adaptable for various thin-film LED applications in photonics.
How Setfos was used
The researchers used Setfos for optical simulations to analyze the spatial distribution of different modes in the top-emitting OLED device, determine the optimized device geometry, and simulate the dissipated power versus the effective refractive index in the optimized condition to enhance the efficiency of polarized emission.
Hye In Yang, Nagarjuna Naik Mude, Jin Young Kim, Jun Hyeog Oh, Ramchandra Pode, and Jang Hyuk Kwon,
Opt. Express 31, 18407-18419 (2023)
https://doi.org/10.1364/OE.487301
The study presents an enhanced top emission OLED (TEOLED) device structure that significantly improves light extraction, specifically by addressing waveguide mode loss in the thin film encapsulation (TFE) layer. By introducing a low refractive index (RI) layer between the capping layer (CPL) and the aluminum oxide (Al2O3) layer, the device manipulates evanescent waves to redirect trapped light within the device, increasing its extraction. This novel TFE structure (CPL/low RI layer/Al2O3/polymer/Al2O3) led to a 23% increase in current efficiency and a 26% enhancement in the blue index value for the blue TEOLED device. This method shows significant potential for advancing flexible optoelectronic device encapsulation technologies.
How Setfos was used
SETFOS 5.1 is used as an optical simulator. The RI of the glass substrate, indium tin oxide (ITO), and organic layers are taken as ∼1.5, 1.8∼2.0, and ∼1.8, respectively. The RI and extinction coefficient of silver (Ag) and magnesium (Mg):Ag (10:1) used as an anode and cathode, respectively, are taken from the reported values. For the EML, the thin film photoluminescence spectrum of 2,12-di-tert-butyl-N,N,5,9-tetrakis(4-(tert-butyl)phenyl)-5,9-dihydro-5,9-diaza-13bboranaphtho[ 3,2,1-de]anthracen-7-amine (DABNA-NP-TB) for the blue TEOLED device, bis[2- (2-pyridinyl-N)phenyl-C](acetylacetonato)iridium(III) for the green TEOLED device, and (bis(4- methyl-2-(3,5-dimethylphenyl)quinoline))Ir(III (tetramethylheptadionate) for the red TEOLED device are used.
Dian Luo, Wei-Yu Chen, Wei-Lun Syu, Shun-Wei Liu, and Chih-Hao Chang
ACS Photonics 2023 10 (8), 2874-2885
DOI: 10.1021/acsphotonics.3c00590
The study introduces four innovative design strategies for tandem organic light-emitting diodes (TOLEDs) to overcome the efficiency loss caused by charge-generation layer (CGL) interactions in multi-layer devices. The designs include an optimized CGL, an exciplex host in the emitting layer for improved carrier balance and reduced voltage, simplified architecture, and nanoparticle diffusers. These led to a three-stacked TOLED reaching 78.7% efficiency, 2.5 times higher than conventional devices. Adding a nanoparticle diffuser further increased efficiency to 123.9%, with a record luminance of 411,531 cd/m². The findings show promise for TOLEDs in OLED phototherapy and display applications with high efficiency and luminance.
How Setfos was used
Setfoswas chosen as the calculation tool for the external optical coupling of the devices.
Luo, D., Hou, M.-C., Wang, K.-Y., Chang, C.-H., Liu, S.-W., Lu, C.-W. and Su, H.-C. (2023),
Adv. Mater. Technol., 8: 2300563. https://doi.org/10.1002/admt.202300563
The research presents a tandem white OLED/LEC hybrid device, combining a red OLED and a blue LEC, which simplifies fabrication compared to multi-layered OLEDs. The device includes a charge-generating layer (CGL) that not only links the two, but also improves carrier balance, leading to an external quantum efficiency (EQE) of 21.53%. Efficiency jumps to 37.88% when using a diffusive substrate. This demonstrates a simpler yet highly efficient structure, offering promising potential for cost-effective lighting solutions.
How Setfos was used
To clarify the relationship between the recombination zone position and the optical mode distribution for Device B, Device R, and Device T. The optical simulation software Setfos was employed as the analysis tool as was the optical mode distribution of the devices.
Yan-Yun Jing et al. ,Sci.Adv.9, eadh8296(2023). DOI:10.1126/sciadv.adh8296
Here the researchers have developed a new strategy to create red Multiple Resonance (MR) emitters for OLEDs achieves high efficiency and color purity by adjusting the π-conjugation and electron-donating properties within a boron-based structure. The result is a range of emissions with narrow bandwidths and a particularly pure-red device meeting the BT.2020 standard with high quantum efficiency and brightness. This approach suggests a promising direction for developing OLED materials with superior color performance.
How Setfos was used
The experimental EQEs closely aligned with the theoretical efficiencies predicted by optical simulations using Setfos software (33.6% for CzIDBNO and 27.9% for IDIDBNO), which further demonstrated the intricate interplay of these parameters on outcoupling efficiency and overall device performance.
Yu Zhang, Weiqing Nie, Mengli Hu, Wu Liu, Heng Liu, Xiaomin Huo, Yao Lu, Dandan Song, Bo Qiao, Zhiqin Liang, Zhiqiang Jiao, Zheng Xu, Guangcai Yuan, and Suling Zhao
ACS Photonics 2023 10 (10), 3521-3530
https://doi.org/10.1021/acsphotonics.3c00524
This research outlines the advancement in tandem optoelectronic devices, specifically a perovskite/organic quasi-tandem system for narrowband photodetectors (NPDs) targeting the visible to near-infrared spectrum. By varying the composition of perovskite and organic layers, the spectral response is tunable, enhancing device selectivity and flexibility. Achieving a peak response near 790 nm with a 41 nm bandwidth, these NPDs exhibit rapid submicrosecond response times, significantly outperforming traditional thick-layer photodetectors, marking a step forward in the development of ultra-fast NPDs.
How Setfos was used
Setfos was utilized to stimulate the penetration of different monochromatic light, the thickness of perovskite (MAPbI3) was set as 1700 nm, and a 150 nm of organic blend layer (PM6:IT-4F) was set on the perovskite. Take thickness as the scanning parameter, with a step size of 10 nm. The optical parameters (n, k) of the materials are obtained through an ellipsometer.
Noel C. Giebink and Stephen R. Forrest
Phys. Rev. Lett. 130, 267002 – Published 29 June 2023
https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.130.267002
The study establishes a thermodynamic limit for OLED efficiency, revealing that OLEDs require higher voltage for the same brightness compared to inorganic LEDs due to strong exciton binding. Optimizing factors like low exciton binding energy, long exciton lifetime, and efficient electron-hole recombination can minimize OLED overpotential, suggesting top-performing OLEDs may be near their efficiency limit. This framework aids in developing low-voltage OLEDs for displays and lighting.
How Setfos was used
Setfos was used to validate the theoretical model considering also exciton dissociation.
Jinno, H., Shivarudraiah, S. B., Asbjörn, R., Vagli, G., Marcato, T., Eickemeyer, F. T., Pfeifer, L., Yokota, T., Someya, T., Shih, C.-J.,
. Adv. Mater. 2023, 2304604.
https://doi.org/10.1002/adma.202304604
This research presents a breakthrough in ultrathin, flexible skin optoelectronics for Internet of Things (IoT) applications. Traditional issues like underperformance due to low polymer process temperatures and spectral distortion from bending are overcome using solution-processed perovskite semiconductors. The study introduces high-efficiency perovskite solar cells and LEDs on polymer films with exceptional thermal stability, achieving record efficiencies (18.2% for solar cells, 15.2 cd A−1 for LEDs) and bending-resistant light emission. This advancement enables reliable, high-performance, self-powered wearables and IoT sensors, demonstrating practical applications such as accurate pulse monitoring at a high selectivity rate.
How Setfos Was used
Finite element analysis for ultraflexible LED was simulated with the Setfos emission module. By expecting the dipole emission model of LED, the module allows to deliver emission spectra of ultraflexible LED with different angle.
Dr. Camilla Arietta VAEL-GARN
Ph. D Thesis, EPFL , 12 Sept. 2023
https://doi.org/10.5075/epfl-thesis-10350
The study explores polymeric semiconductors in organic electronics, using drift-diffusion simulation to study three areas. First, the applicability of thermally stimulated current measurement for studying trap states in organic semiconductors is investigated, identifying a reliable formula for data analysis. Second, reversible trap states in a polymeric light-emitting diode are studied, suggesting trap state formation and disaggregation may involve water and oxygen molecules. Lastly, the operational principles of an upconverter device converting near infra-red to visible light are examined, finding that electron mobility in the emission layer significantly affects the device's response time.
Han Bin Cho, Ju Yeon Han, Ha Jun Kim, Noolu Srinivasa Manikanta Viswanath, Yong Min Park, Jeong Wan Min, Sung Woo Jang, Heesun Yang, and Won Bin Im
ACS Appl. Mater. Interfaces 2023, 15, 24, 29259–29266, June 8, 2023
https://doi.org/10.1021/acsami.3c02857
Quantum dot light-emitting diodes (QLEDs) often use PEDOT:PSS as a hole injection layer (HIL), but it has a high energy barrier for hole injection, resulting in low efficiency. Researchers improved device efficiency by using a bilayer HIL with VO2 and PEDOT:PSS, achieving an 18% external quantum efficiency, 78 cd/A current efficiency, and 25,771 cd/m² maximum luminance, compared to 13%, 54 cd/A, and 14,817 cd/m² for the PEDOT:PSS-based QLED. This approach effectively reduced the energy barrier between indium tin oxide (ITO) and PEDOT:PSS, boosting QLED efficiency.
How Setfos was used
The optical simulation was conducted using the advanced simulation software Setfos.
Li, G., Pu, J., Yang, Z., Deng, H., Liu, Y., Mao, Z., Zhao, J., Su, S., Chi, Z., Aggregate 2023, 00, e382.
https://doi.org/10.1002/agt2.382
This study proposes a design strategy for constructing highly efficient organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) using thermally activated delayed fluorescence (TADF) emitters with high horizontal dipole ratios. The researchers designed two TADF emitters, BO-3DMAC and BO-3DPAC, using a shamrock-shaped structure. These emitters exhibited high horizontal dipole ratios of 84-93% in both neat and doped films. The emitters showed excellent external quantum efficiencies (EQEs) of up to 38.7% in doped OLEDs with sky-blue emission. The researchers also demonstrated that the shamrock-shaped design resulted in aggregation-induced emission (AIE) and low efficiency roll-off. The emitters had low singlet-triplet energy splitting (ΔEst) and achieved high PLQYs. The results highlight the potential of the shamrock-shaped design to construct TADF emitters with high Θ// and pave the way for the development of high-performance OLEDs.
How Setfos was used
The refractive index of the materials were extracted from the Setfos database and the light out-coupling efficiency of devices were also simulated.
Wang, J, Xie, M, Pang, H, Zhang, C, Sang, M, Zhang, Q, et al.
J Soc Inf Display. 2023; 31( 6): 457– 465.
https://doi.org/10.1002/jsid.1205
This scientific article discusses the development of high-performance red and green phosphorescent emitters suitable for the BT.2020 color gamut in displays. The researchers conducted optical simulations to determine the optimal spectra for the emitters. For the green emitter, they found that a spectrum with a peak wavelength at 526 nm and a full width at half maximum (FWHM) less than 30 nm could achieve the desired color coordinates. For the red emitter, they discovered that decreasing the FWHM instead of red-shifting the spectrum was important to achieve the desired color coordinates while maintaining high current efficiency. Based on these simulation results, the researchers designed and synthesized novel deep green (DGD) and deep red phosphorescent (DRD-II) emitters. The DGD emitter achieved a color coordinate of (0.170, 0.777) with a current efficiency of 171 cd/A, and the DRD-II emitter achieved a color coordinate of (0.708, 0.292) with a current efficiency of 59 cd/A. The researchers also demonstrated that the angular dependence of these devices was comparable to those with commercial emitters. Overall, these findings suggest that phosphorescent emitters have the potential to meet the BT.2020 color standard in organic displays.
How was Setfos used?
SETFOS 5.0 was used for optical simulations to determine the optimal spectrum of a green emitter suitable for BT.2020. The simulations involved employing a series of simulated green photoluminescence (PL) spectra. Optical constants, such as the refractive index and the extinction coefficient of each emitter, were taken into account during the simulations.
Kamijo, T., van Breemen, A.J.J.M., Ma, X. et al. A touchless user interface based on a near-infrared-sensitive transparent optical imager. Nat Electron (2023).
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41928-023-00970-8
Researchers have developed a touchless user interface based on a visually transparent near-infrared-sensitive organic photodetector (OPD) array. The touchless interface can be used on top of a display, eliminating the need for physical contact.
The OPD array is designed with optical transparency in mind, using printed copper grids and patterned organic photodetector subpixels. The design optimization results in a high photodetectivity of 10^12 Jones at 850 nm and a visible-light transmittance of 70%.
The touchless user interface can be used with a penlight or through gesture recognition, providing a hygienic and convenient alternative to traditional touch screens. The technology has potential applications in automated teller machines (ATMs), ticket vending machines, and kiosks, where hygiene is a concern. It is a scalable and flexible solution that can be integrated into a variety of display applications without size limitations or calibration requirements. 2D FEM simulations for the surface potential and the current density distributions derived from the printed Cu grid structure .
How Fluxim’s Research Tools were used
Setfos
Numerical electro-optical simulations for the photogenerated J–V curves of our NIR-sensitive OPDs were performed by using Setfos.
The VLT of the parallel OPD subpixel array was calculated by the summation of the simulated optical transmittance for each component using Setfos
Laoss
2D FEM simulations for the surface potential and the current density distributions derived from the printed Cu grid structure for our NIR-sensitive OPDs were performed by Laoss 4.0
Lee, J. H., Huang, J.-X., Chen, C.-H., Lee, Y.-T., Chan, C.-Y., Dzeng, Y.-C., Tang, P.-W., Chen, C., Adachi, C., Chiu, T.-L., Lee, J.-H., Chen, C.-T.,
Adv. Optical Mater. 2023, 2202666.
https://doi.org/10.1002/adom.202202666
Researchers have designed and synthesized a novel near-ultraviolet (NUV) fluorescent material, BB4Ph, based on the classic 1,1′:4′,1″-terphenyl fluorophore. The material exhibits high order and horizontal-dipole ratios, enabling efficient NUV organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs). Non-doped BB4Ph OLEDs achieved external quantum efficiency (EQE) up to 5.24%, while doped BB4Ph OLEDs with 4P-Cz reached a peak EQE of 6.99%. The material's high photoluminescence quantum yield and light outcoupling efficiency make it a promising candidate for NUV OLED applications.
Hsieh CA, Tan GH, Chuang YT, Lin HC, Lai PT, Jan PE, Chen BH, Lu CH, Yang SD, Hsiao KY, Lu MY, Chen LY, Lin HW.
Adv Sci (Weinh). 2023 Feb 7:e2206076.
Researchers have significantly improved the efficiency of vacuum-deposited metal halide perovskite light-emitting diodes (PeLEDs) by optimizing the stoichiometric ratio of sublimed precursors and incorporating ultrathin layers. The properties of these perovskite layers are highly influenced by the presence of upper- and presublimed materials, which helps enhance device performance. By eliminating Pb° formation and passivating defects, the PeLEDs achieve an impressive external quantum efficiency (EQE) of 10.9% and up to 21.1% when integrating a light out-coupling structure.
Kuo, H.-H., Kumar, S., Omongos, R. L., T. do Casal, M., Usteri, M. E., Wörle, M., Escudero, D., Shih, C.-J.,
Adv. Optical Mater. 2023, 2202519.
https://doi.org/10.1002/adom.202202519
Researchers have developed efficient phosphorescent emitters using abundant Au(III) complexes with asymmetric C^C^N ligands and carbazole moieties. The synthesized complexes exhibit shortened radiative lifetimes and high photoluminescence quantum yields, reaching over 93% in thin films. As a result, high-performance OLED devices demonstrate record-high external quantum efficiencies and current efficiencies, paving the way for the molecular design of anisotropic Au(III) emitters in next-generation optoelectronics.
The researchers quantified the horizontal dipole ratios in thin-films using the angular-dependent PL spectroscopy by fitting the experimental p-polarized (p-pol) angular PL intensity as a function of viewing angle with optical simulations using Setfos.
Tianqi Zhang,Pai Liu, Fangqing Zhao, Yangzhi Tan, Jiayun Sun, Xiangtian Xiao, Zhaojing Wang, Qingqian Wang, Fankai Zheng, Xiao Wei Sun, Dan Wu, Guichuan Xing and Kai Wang
Nanoscale Adv., 2023, 5, 385
https://doi.org/10.1039/d2na00705c
Researchers introduced an electric dipole layer in green InP QLEDs to enhance hole injection and balance carrier injection. This approach increased the carrier recombination rate, resulting in a high luminance of 52,730 cd m−2 and a 1.7 times EQE enhancement from 4.25% to 7.39%, paving the way for highly efficient green InP QLEDs.
Electrical simulations were performed with Setfos, while the constant or field-dependent electron and hole mobilities according to the Poole–Frenkel model were used in the simulations.
Dario Di Carlo Rasi, Koen H. Hendriks, Martijn M. Wienk, and René A. J. Janssen
Advanced Materials, 2018, 1803836
https://doi.org/10.1002/adma.201803836
Abstract:
A monolithic two-terminal solution-processed quadruple junction polymer solar cell in an n–i–p (inverted) configuration with four complementary polymer: fullerene active bulk-heterojunction layers is presented. The subcells possess different optical bandgaps ranging from 1.90 to 1.13 eV. Optical modeling using the transfer matrix formalism enables the prediction of the fraction of absorbed photons from sunlight in each subcell and determines the optimal combination of layer thicknesses. The quadruple junction cell features an open-circuit voltage of 2.45 V and has a power conversion efficiency of 7.6%, only slightly less than the modeled value of 8.2%. The external quantum efficiency spectrum, determined with appropriate light and voltage bias conditions, exhibits, in general, an excellent agreement with modeled spectrum. The device performance is presently limited by bimolecular recombination, which prevents using thick photoactive layers that could absorb light more efficiently.
Sheng Bi, Zhongliang Ouyang, Shoieb Shaik and Dawen Li
Scientific Reports 8, 9574 (2018)
S. Altazin, C. Kirsch, E. Knapp, A. Stous, and B. Ruhstaller
Journal of Applied Physics 124, 135501 (2018)
https://doi.org/10.1063/1.5043245
Abstract: We present a new approach to simulate the transport of charges across organic/organic layer interfaces in organic semiconductor devices. This approach combines the drift-diffusion formalism away from the interface with a hopping description of the charge transport in the vicinity of the interface. It has been implemented in the commercial software SETFOS allowing for fast simulations of the complete device. This new model takes into account both recombination and generation mechanisms across the interface enabling the modeling of charge-generation/recombination interfaces for the numerical simulation of tandem devices. Using this approach, it is also possible to simulate devices using 1,4,5,8,9,11-Hexaazatriphenylenehexacarbonitrile as a hole-injection layer. This particular material has a very deep HOMO level (approximately 9.5 eV), which would seemingly prevent such a layer to be used as a hole-injection material in the framework of traditional drift-diffusion models.
Taesoo Kim, Yuliar Firdaus, Ahmad R. Kirmani, Ru-Ze Liang, Hanlin Hu, Mengxia Liu, Abdulrahman El Labban, Sjoerd Hoogland, Pierre M. Beaujuge, Edward H. Sargent, and Aram Amassian
ACS Energy Letters 3, 1307 (2018)
Francisco Peña-Camargo, Jarla Thiesbrummel, Hannes Hempel, Artem Musiienko, Vincent M. Le Corre, Jonas Diekmann, Jonathan Warby, Thomas Unold, Felix Lang, Dieter Neher, Martin Stolterfoht;
Applied Physics Reviews 1 June 2022; 9 (2): 021409. 86
https://doi.org/10.1063/5.00852
This scientific article presents a multifaceted approach to determine the electronic doping density in metal-halide perovskite systems. The researchers used various optical and electrical characterization techniques to quantify the doping density. The results showed that the doping density in perovskite thin films is below the critical threshold that would affect device performance. The doping-induced charges were found to be too low to redistribute the built-in voltage in the perovskite active layer. However, the presence of mobile ions in sufficient quantities was observed, which could create space-charge regions in the active layer. The experimental results were supported by drift-diffusion simulations. The findings suggest that perovskite thin films behave as intrinsic semiconductors and that doping does not significantly influence the performance of devices based on these materials.
How was Setfos used
Setfos was used to check that findings for doping also holds for mobile ions.
Jafar I. Khan, Raja S. Ashraf, Maha A. Alamoudi, Mohammed N. Nabi, Hamza N. Mohammed, Andrew Wadsworth, Yuliar Firdaus, Weimin Zhang, Thomas D. Anthopoulos, Iain McCulloch, Frédéric Laquai
Solar RRL (2019)
Yuliar Firdaus, Vincent M. Le Corre, Jafar I. Khan, Zhipeng Kan, Frédéric Laquai, Pierre M. Beaujuge, and Thomas D. Anthopoulos
Advanced Science 1802028 (2019)
Robin E. M. Willems, Stefan C.J. Meskers, Martijn M. Wienk, and René A. J. Janssen
J. Phys. Chem. C (2019)
Simon Züfle, Rickard Hansson, Eugene A. Katz, Ellen Moons
Solar Energy 183 (2019) 234–239
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.solener.2019.03.020
https://authors.elsevier.com/c/1YiXX,tRdATFb
Abstract:
Encapsulated organic solar cells often show a burn-in behaviour under illumination. This burn-in manifests itself as a rapid performance loss followed by a much slower progression of the degradation. Here we investigate the burn-in for PCDTBT:PC70BM solar cells under a wide range of illumination intensities. We find that increasing the sunlight concentration from 1 Sun to up to 100 Suns does not change the degradation behaviour, i.e. the dependence of all principal photovoltaic parameters on the dose of solar exposure (in Sun hours). This suggests that the degradation mechanisms under solar concentration (≤100 Suns) are the same as those observed under 1 Sun. This result makes it possible to use concentrated sunlight for accelerated stability assessment of these devices. We also find that devices with PEDOT:PSS as hole transport material show a rapid drop in open-circuit voltage of around 100 mV during the first Sun hour of light exposure. By replacing PEDOT:PSS with MoO3 this initial process can be prevented and only the much slower part of the photo-degradation takes place.
Dario Di Carlo Rasi, Pieter M. J. G. van Thiel, Haijun Bin, Koen H. Hendriks, Gaël H. L. Heintges, Martijn M. Wienk, Tim Becker, Yongfang Li, Thomas Riedl, and Rene A. J. Janssen
Solar RRL 2019, 1800366
F. Ventsch, M.C. Gather, K. Meerholz
Organic Electronics 11, 57 (2010)
S. Hamwi, J. Meyer, M. Kröger, T. Winkler, M. Witte, T. Riedl, A. Kahn, W. Kowalsky
Advanced Functional Materials 20,1762 (2010)
M. Mazzeo, F. Della Sala, F. Mariano, G. Melcarne, Y. Duan, S. D'Agostino , R. Cingolani, G. Gigli
Advanced Materials, 22, 4696-4700, 2010
R. Mauer, I.A. Howard, F. Laquai
Journal of Physical Chemistry Letters, 1, 3500-3505, 2010
G. Xie, Z. Zhang, Q. Xue, S. Zhang, L. Zhao, Y. Luo, P. Chen, B. Quan, Y. Zhao, S. Liu
Organic Electronics 11, 2055, 2010
https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.orgel.2010.10.001
E. Knapp, R. Häusermann, H.U. Schwarzenbach, B. Ruhstaller
Journal of Applied Physics, 108, 054504-0545012, 2010
https://dx.doi.org/10.1063/1.3475505
B. Perucco, N.A. Reinke, D. Rezzonico, M. Moos, and B. Ruhstaller
Optics Express, 18 (S2), A246-A260, 2010
https://doi.org/10.1364/OE.18.00A246
B. Perucco, N.A. Reinke, F. Müller, D. Rezzonico, and B. Ruhstaller
Proc. SPIE 7722, Organic Photonics IV, 77220F (2010)
G. Cheng, M. Mazzeo, S. D’Agostino, F. Della Sala, S. Carallo, G. Gigli
Optics Letters, 35 (5), 616-618, 2010
P.M. Boland, T. Abdel-Fattah, H. Baumgart, G. Namkoong
2009 International Semiconductor Device Research Symposium, 2009
https://doi.org/10.1109/ISDRS.2009.5378124
Our team purchased the optical and electrical modules of Setfos in July 2020. The operation interface of the software is intuitive, friendly, and easy to operate. The software itself contains rich information within a large material database. In the OLED device simulation process, we can simulate the emission spectrum of OLED, and simultaneously the recombination zone of charge transfer and drift spread. It can also help us to modify the design of device structure and can effectively analyze and improve the OLED device efficiency. The results calculated by Setfos could be served as a good reference point for our scientific research. We would highly recommend you consider Setfos as the option.
Dr. Ding, OLED simulation team, Ningbo Research Institute, China