Heraeus, BELECTRIC OPV intensify collaboration on next-generation Organic Photovoltaics

The ability to produce organic photovoltaic (OPV) products in various shapes and colors has been illustrated by BELECTRIC OPV at the German Pavilion at the International EXPO in Milan, Italy.

Heraeus, a partner of BELECTRIC OPV in development of organic photovoltaics, plays a key role in BELECTRIC’s innovative technology through the supply of vital components, the partners emphasize in a press release.

The large OPV surfaces at the German Pavilion are integrated into tree-like structures creating a big canopy over the pavilion. The effect is an attractive, futuristic architecture that generates electricity. This way OPV can energize almost any surface.

New materials and processes to further improve the viability of OPV

“Clevios” conductive polymer materials based on “PEDOT:PSS” provide the hole-transport layer, and low temperature “SOL” silver pastes serve as the electrode in the devices.

Both materials are processed by roll-to-roll coating and printing, thus providing high throughput at low cost. The mutually beneficial cooperation between BELECTRIC OPV and Heraeus on new materials and processes to improve the viability of OPV even further demonstrates the positive impact along the supply chain.

Using state-of-the-art materials in combination with innovative wet-coating based manufacturing processes, BELECTRIC OPV is able to supply the market with customized, aesthetically pleasing OPV solutions, the company emphasizes.

Heraeus, a leading supplier of metallization pastes used in crystalline silicon PV solar cells, is expanding its product range to include next generation PV technologies with low temperature silver pastes along with OPV grades of “Clevios” PEDOT based conductive polymers. “Clevios” is already extensively used in antistatic, touch sensor and emerging OLED applications. Heraeus has ton-scale production capacity for these materials.

”Open innovation approaches, like the joint-development effort together with Heraeus for example, is part of our R&D strategy”, reveals Andreas Distler (Head of R&D, BELECTRIC OPV).

“In order to bring OPV technology to its best, it is important that a holistic development approach is applied throughout the whole device architecture and the manufacturing process.”

This also adds to the great potential for scalability of printed OPV manufacturing. – Solarserver.com