Large Scale Processing of Organic Photovoltaic Modules by Doctor Blade Coating
Résumé
In recent years, organic photovoltaic (OPV), with the introduction of semiconducting non-fullerene acceptors (NFAs) have achieved remarkable power conversion efficiencies (PCEs) of more than
17% [1] , offering advantages vis-à-vis conventional inorganic solar materials, including mechanical flexibility, light weight, absence of toxic heavy metals and facile module manufacture by high-
throughput printing methodologies [1,2]. Current research is trying to reach higher efficiencies to be able to compete with other commercial technologies. But these laboratory records are still far in
the case of larger samples and industrial production systems.
Among various potential applications of OPVs, indoor power generation has a great potential, considering several advantages of this technology: highly tunable optical absorption, large absorption
coefficients and small leakage currents under dim lighting conditions[3] (as indoor light). In recent years, indoor organic photovoltaics (IOPV) have attracted attention because of their ability to
power microelectronic devices and sensors, especially for the internet of things (IoT), with a theoretical PCE with maximum close to 50% under white LED illumination[4].
In the context of these problematic as well as the consideration of different indoor light sources and environmental working conditions of these OPV for IoT devices, the IOPV-lab is trying to:
a) improve the positioning of Dracula Technologies IOPV devices to position their products better in the performance/environmental impact/cost triangle.
b) deepen the research in these indoor measurements, performances, working and ageing conditions for the devices and;
c) improve the stability of the devices beyond 10 years lifetime.
However, the fabrication of organic photovoltaic modules via printing techniques has been the greatest challenge for their commercial manufacture[5]. The large-area OPV usually showed inferior
PCE than the small area counterparts, because of uncontrollable morphology[4]. Thus, to bride the gap between laboratory research and industrialization of these devices, IOPV-lab team is trying
to validate in laboratory conditions, using larger-area manufacturing techniques and at module level (close to production) the development of IOPV modules before bringing them to the industry.