Plextronics provide critical developments for the organic solar market
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An organic solar ink developed by Plextronics can be used for energy harvesting applications such as animated point-of-purchase displays that are self-powered by organic photovoltaics (OPV).
The solar ink can be used to deliver higher performance in fluorescent lighting conditions in comparison to amorphous silicon solar cells. it shows a 30 to 40 percent increase in indoor power density as compared to conventional organic solar technology.
The OPV contains safe, non-toxic materials unlike the heavy metals found in typical batteries; and will be lower cost than other power sources due to the application of high-throughput, roll-to-roll printing processes for manufacturing.
Mary Boone, Director of Ink Business Development for Plextronics describes point-of-purchase displays in the retail environment as one example of an energy harvesting application: “Working with our partners and customers, we’ve talked with major retailers and consumer goods companies in the U.S. who want to replace the traditional paper signage used in stores today with low-cost, animated point-of-purchase displays that are self-powered by OPV,” said Boone. “Retailers don’t want the ongoing cost and disruption of having to purchase and replace conventional batteries in these displays, so there is tremendous interest in using printable OPV as the power source for these new displays. By enabling the low-cost manufacturing of OPV through our Plexcore® PV 2000, we are helping to get this market off the ground,” Boone said.
Low-temperature processing for OPV inks
The Company also announced a breakthrough manufacturing method that allows for low-temperature processing of the OPVs.
While previous industry standard techniques required a glass substrate to be annealed at temperatures at or above 110° C, the proprietary method developed at Plextronics enables annealing at less than 65° C.
This new method is expected to reduce manufacturing costs by enabling the use of less expensive substrates, especially once the process is transferred to flexible substrates such as plastic.
Plextronics’ Vice President of Business Development Jim Dietz commented on the significance of this development: “One of the major hurdles facing the industry in that regard is being able to manufacture devices in an environment that doesn’t require high temperatures because it is expensive to process inks at these temperatures and it could damage flexible substrates,” Dietz said. “The low-temperature process we are developing at Plextronics is expected to be fully compatible with roll-to-roll manufacturing equipment so we see that as one possible pathway for our customers.”
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