Printed Paper Photovoltaics - A New Technology


Arved C. Hübler

Institute for Print & Media Technology, TU Chemnitz, Reichenhainer Str. 70, 09126 Chemnitz, Germany

e-mail: arved.huebler@mb.tu-chemnitz.de

URL: http://www.tu-chemnitz.de/mb/PrintMedienTech/pminstitut/pmtuc.php

 

For energy technologies of the future. Because of the restrictions in the economic scale at traditional solar technologies, new technologies for solar energy are needed. One new technology approach is our printed paper photovoltaics (3PV). Based on a standard photoactive system of a blend of poly(3-hexylthiophene-2,5-diyl) (P3HT) and [6,6]-phenyl-C61 butyric acid methyl ester (PCBM) we were able to realize solar cells with a power conversion efficiency of 1.3% under an illumination level of 60 mW/cm2. As electrodes we have used naturally oxidized zinc (Zn) film and the conducting polymer poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS). To generate the structured layers, standard mass printing technologies were used.[1]

3PV solar cells might become a paradigm shift in the future of energy supply. Therewith printed electronics will make a breakthrough in a very new and advanced field of applications.

The presentation covers the following topics: