(July 8, 2012) KIT
intensifies printable organic solar cell research. A group of researchers
headed by Dr. Alexander Colsmann at the Light Technology Institute (LTI) will
start work this month. The project is scheduled for a duration of four years
and aims at enhancing the efficiency of organic solar cells to more than 10%.
For this purpose, the researchers use tandem architectures combining solar
cells of complementary absorption spectra. The Federal Ministry of Education
and Research has granted funding of EUR 4.25 million.
The new
generation of solar cells is light, flexible, semi-transparent, and allows for
a low-cost production. Organic solar cells (plastic solar cells) can be applied
to surfaces of nearly any shape by state-of-the-art printing and coating
processes. Organic photovoltaics open up new perspectives in particular for the
architectural design of buildings. The solar modules can be integrated in
facades and even windows. In addition, they open up new OEM applications in the
automotive or consumer sectors.