Transforming semitransparent organic photovoltaics into catalysts for positive emotional responses

Semitransparent organic photovoltaics (ST-OPVs), due to their transparency, can be integrated into building designs through building integrated photovoltaics (BIPVs) to address the energy challenges posed by urbanization. While current BIPVs such as photovoltaic windows meet the criteria for both the power supply and urban esthetics, a crucial aspect remains underexplored in the existing research: the human experience under such modulated sunlight. In this study, we conduct a systematic analysis of the interaction between spectrally tunable ST-OPV materials and human cognition and emotion, proposing a framework for selecting user-friendly ST-OPVs. Our results reveal that predominant high-performance donor polymer materials negatively influence user emotions. To address this issue, we employed spectrum shaping optical structures to optimize the device transmittance and color rendering properties, to achieve desirable human emotion feedback. This groundbreaking study delves into the user experience of ST-OPV devices, playing a crucial role in addressing the energy demands of urbanization and paving the way for the realization of smart, sustainable, and healthy cities.