Polymer Solar Cells for solar Energy Conversion

Plastic solar cells convert solar energy into electrical energy and have many advantages compared to existing technologies. They offer fast production at low cost and further have a low thermal budget. They can be produced in a mechanically flexible form.

At Risø DTU a broad expertise have been established on the topic during the past 6 years with special focus on preparation and properties of materials, the stability of the solar cells and methods for their preparation and manufacture under industrial conditions. A process line has been built at Risø DTU where plastic solar cells can be prepared by several printing techniques and tested under controlled conditions.

The efficiency, stability and production of plastic solar cells has been documented when considered individually (8% efficiency, > 10000 hours of lifetime under accelerated conditions, preparation of large modules with an area of 0.3 square metre). So far, however, the combination of all three (or even two) of these factors for the same material in the same device. The scale of the problem is considerable. The platform that has been established at Risø DTU is of a sufficient size (30 man-years / Year) for attacking this problem and it is reasonable to assume that it can be solved during the running period of the project.

The project thus aims at unifying and understanding the interplay between efficiency, stability and processing. This is currently viewed as a fundamental prerequisite for establishing the plastic solar cell technology commercially and such that it can contribute to renewable energy production.

Funded by: Strategic Research Programme Commission on Sustainable Energy and Environment (EnMi)
Funded to: Professor Frederik C. Krebs
Grant number:2104-07-0022
Project duration: 2008-2012

Page updated by 21.12.2011

Frederik C Krebs
Professor
Solar Energy Programme (SOL)
Dir tel+45 46774799