Organic solar cells as high-speed data detectors for visible light communication

Shuyu Zhang; Dobroslav Tsonev; Stefan Videv; Sanjay Ghosh; Graham A. Turnbull; Ifor D. W. Samuel; Harald Haas

doi:10.1364/OPTICA.2.000607

Organic solar cells as high-speed data detectors for visible light communication

Shuyu Zhang^*, Dobroslav Tsonev, Stefan Videv, Sanjay Ghosh, Graham A. Turnbull, Ifor D. W. Samuel, Harald Haas

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

We show that solar cells, widely used in portable devices for power generation, can simultaneously extract a high-speed data signal in an optical wireless communication link. This Letter reports, to the best of our knowledge, the first use of an organic solar cell as an energy-harvesting receiver for visible light communications (VLCs). While generating maximum power in the cell, the communication link can deliver a data rate of 34.2 Mbps with a bit error rate of 4.08 x 10(-4) using an implementation of orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing. This approach could lead to printed optical data receivers in future eco-friendly VLC systems. Simultaneous functions of data communication and energy harvesting have great implications for the connectivity of future smart devices, many of which could become self-powered units as part of the "Internet of Things."

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	607-610
Number of pages	4
Journal	Optica
Volume	2
Issue number	7
Early online date	29 Jun 2015
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1364/OPTICA.2.000607
Publication status	Published - 20 Jul 2015

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10.1364/OPTICA.2.000607

Zhang_2015_OPTICA_AAM
Copyright © 2015, Publisher / the Author(s). This work is made available online in accordance with the publisher’s policies. This is the author created, accepted version manuscript following peer review and may differ slightly from the final published version. The final published version of this work is available at https://dx.doi.org/10.1364/OPTICA.2.000607
Accepted author manuscript, 1.11 MB

Ultra-parallel visable light communicati: UK Visible Light Communications
Samuel, I. D. W. (PI) & Turnbull, G. (CoI)
EPSRC
1/10/12 → 28/02/17
Project: Standard
Synergistic tailoring of flavins: Synergistic tailoring of flavins and quantum dots for solar cell applications
Samuel, I. D. W. (PI)
EPSRC
1/01/11 → 31/12/14
Project: Standard

Graham Turnbull
- gatst-andrews.acuk
- School of Physics and Astronomy - Deputy Head of School, Professor
- Centre for Energy Ethics
- Centre for Biophotonics
- Organic Semiconductor Centre
Person: Academic

Cite this

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title = "Organic solar cells as high-speed data detectors for visible light communication",

abstract = "We show that solar cells, widely used in portable devices for power generation, can simultaneously extract a high-speed data signal in an optical wireless communication link. This Letter reports, to the best of our knowledge, the first use of an organic solar cell as an energy-harvesting receiver for visible light communications (VLCs). While generating maximum power in the cell, the communication link can deliver a data rate of 34.2 Mbps with a bit error rate of 4.08 x 10(-4) using an implementation of orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing. This approach could lead to printed optical data receivers in future eco-friendly VLC systems. Simultaneous functions of data communication and energy harvesting have great implications for the connectivity of future smart devices, many of which could become self-powered units as part of the {"}Internet of Things.{"} ",

author = "Shuyu Zhang and Dobroslav Tsonev and Stefan Videv and Sanjay Ghosh and Turnbull, {Graham A.} and Samuel, {Ifor D. W.} and Harald Haas",

note = "Funding: Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) (EP/I00243X, EP/K00042X/1, EP/K008757/1).",

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doi = "10.1364/OPTICA.2.000607",

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T1 - Organic solar cells as high-speed data detectors for visible light communication

AU - Zhang, Shuyu

AU - Tsonev, Dobroslav

AU - Videv, Stefan

AU - Ghosh, Sanjay

AU - Turnbull, Graham A.

AU - Samuel, Ifor D. W.

AU - Haas, Harald

N1 - Funding: Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) (EP/I00243X, EP/K00042X/1, EP/K008757/1).

PY - 2015/7/20

Y1 - 2015/7/20

N2 - We show that solar cells, widely used in portable devices for power generation, can simultaneously extract a high-speed data signal in an optical wireless communication link. This Letter reports, to the best of our knowledge, the first use of an organic solar cell as an energy-harvesting receiver for visible light communications (VLCs). While generating maximum power in the cell, the communication link can deliver a data rate of 34.2 Mbps with a bit error rate of 4.08 x 10(-4) using an implementation of orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing. This approach could lead to printed optical data receivers in future eco-friendly VLC systems. Simultaneous functions of data communication and energy harvesting have great implications for the connectivity of future smart devices, many of which could become self-powered units as part of the "Internet of Things."

AB - We show that solar cells, widely used in portable devices for power generation, can simultaneously extract a high-speed data signal in an optical wireless communication link. This Letter reports, to the best of our knowledge, the first use of an organic solar cell as an energy-harvesting receiver for visible light communications (VLCs). While generating maximum power in the cell, the communication link can deliver a data rate of 34.2 Mbps with a bit error rate of 4.08 x 10(-4) using an implementation of orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing. This approach could lead to printed optical data receivers in future eco-friendly VLC systems. Simultaneous functions of data communication and energy harvesting have great implications for the connectivity of future smart devices, many of which could become self-powered units as part of the "Internet of Things."

U2 - 10.1364/OPTICA.2.000607

DO - 10.1364/OPTICA.2.000607

M3 - Article

SN - 2334-2536

VL - 2

SP - 607

EP - 610

JO - Optica

JF - Optica

IS - 7

ER -

Organic solar cells as high-speed data detectors for visible light communication

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Projects

Ultra-parallel visable light communicati: UK Visible Light Communications

Synergistic tailoring of flavins: Synergistic tailoring of flavins and quantum dots for solar cell applications

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Graham Turnbull

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