http://www.designnews.com/article/CA6485775.htmlPower Polymers Fuel Solar Cell Advances
Doug Smock, Contributing Editor -- 10/8/2007
...Printable Polymers
One new technology with promise uses a class of semi-conductive polymers based on regioregular poly (3-substituted) thiophenes that can strongly absorb sunlight and separate electric charges, the key functions required in a photovoltaic unit. The approach is under study by a Pittsburgh-based company called Plextronics that received a $3 million grant from the U.S. Dept. of Energy Initiative to develop thin film organic photovoltaic technology for the federal Solar America Initiative. Plextronics describes itself as the world leader in developing active layer technology for printed electronics devices, which can be used for polymer solar cells, plastic circuitry or organic light-emitting displays (OLED).
"We expect to see early organic photovoltaic (OPV) device products in the market as early as 2008 through our customers," says James Dietz, vice president of business development for Plextronics. "The key issues relate to scaling cell and module efficiencies, optimizing the key production processes and providing the lifetime of the modules for early applications."
Plextronics will not reveal much information about its technical building blocks. "We do not divulge our manufacturing recipes," says Dietz. He will say Plexcore PV is a proprietary ink system that incorporates p+ and n+ type polymer semiconductors that are unique to Plextronics. Plexcore PV by itself is a p-type semiconductor. When mixed with materials that conduct negative charges (such as carbon fullerenes, titanium dioxide or cadmium selenide) a complete solar cell can be made.
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One company that has met with Plextronics is Bayer MaterialScience. "Roll-to-roll manufacturing has the potential to drive costs way down," says Kevin Elsken, a project manager for future business at Bayer MaterialScience in Pittsburgh. "Long-term, flexible cells will replace conventional silicon cells," says Elsken. "Maybe in 10 years. Certainly in 20 years."
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Many companies are pursuing alternative approaches to solar cells. Nanosolar of Palo Alto, CA, for example has raised $100 million in venture capital to develop a process for printing solar cells on rolls of film using ink filled with nano particles of copper indium gallium selenide. As with Plextronics, the ink is the secret sauce. A company called Luz II built several commercial power plants using solar thermal parabolic trough technology, which focuses sunlight on a pipe carrying synthetic oil.
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