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nanotimes News in Brief Printed Photovoltaic Cells on Paper

Researchers at Chemnitz University of Technology, Germany, have now presented solar panels that are printed on paper. The technology known as 3PV – Printed Paper Photovoltaics – uses conventional printing methods and standard substrates, like those used for magazines, posters or packaging. Special inks with electrical properties form the necessary structures on paper, which ensure that electricity is generated when being exposed to light. Since the employed conventional printing methods, i.e. gravure, flexo and offset printing, are very cost-efficient, the prin- ted solar panels shall generate much cheaper electricity in comparison to conventional solar cells. Prof. Dr. Arved Hübler from the Institute for Print and Media Technolo- gy at Chemnitz University of Technology, who is working together with his research team on the 3PV technology for more than three years now, speaks of a paradigm shift in solar technology. His vision for the future is that com- mon printing houses around the world could produce and market 3PV solar panels. The cells printed in Chemnitz achieve an energy conversion efficiency of 1.3%. The researchers use a new material approach. In a special printing process, naturally oxidised zinc is applied as base electrode. The transparent counter electrode is printed with PEDOT, a conductive polymer.

Arved Hübler, Bystrik Trnovec, Tino Zillger, Moazzam Ali, Nora Wetzold, Markus Mingebach, Alexander Wagenpfahl, Carsten Deibel, Vladimir Dyakonov: Printed Paper Photovoltaic Cells, In: Advanced Energy Materials, Early View, Sep- tember 14, 2011, DOI:10.1002/aenm.201100394: http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/aenm.201100394

http://www.pppv.de http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QcBKIkq4GP8

11-09 :: September 2011