DTU-Processing and Characterization laboratories for organic PV
- Processing organic PV in polymer solar cells; Roll-to-Roll printing and coating
- Characterisation; advanced studied on structure, optical properties and chemical composition
- Software for calculating device lifetime and energy output from ageing curves
Technical Info
MAIN FEATURES :
DTU has developed a set of dedicated facilities for processing and characterization of organic photovoltaics (OPV) in form of polymer solar cells
A. PROCESSING ORGANIC PV IN POLYMER SOLAR CELLS; ROLL-TO-ROLL PRINTING AND COATING
The experimental facility consists of:
- Glove box processing lines including coating and metallization techniques for controlled atmosphere fabrication of test cells. Cells fabricated in a standardised layout may be tested using rapid solar test platform.
- Roll-to-Roll printing and coating machinery for processing of flexible polymer solar cells. Slot die coating of users own active layer materials in a standard configuration using a simplified coating procedure and machinery [described in Dam HF.; Krebs FC., Simple roll coater with variable coating and temperature control for printed polymer solar cells, SOLAR ENERGY MATERIALS AND SOLAR CELLS 97(SI), 191-196 (2012)] Full functional solar cells can be processed and tested.
Users get access to test their own materials formulation for flexible solar cells through manufacturing at in-house developed equipment for rapid processing and rapid testing of solar cells that are one-of-a-kind. In particular, users get access to unique know-how on processing solar cells, to help users make formulations apt for coating. The processing facilities are integral parts of a research and development lab for polymer solar cells spanning materials synthesis, “Advanced characterisations for OPV”, and solar cell testing facilities (last one indicated as a separate infrastructure)
The research comprises all aspects of developing, utilizing and characterizing polymer solar cells.
DTU offers also CLOP-Characterisation lab for OPV, a specific separate infrastucture for OPV/DSSC characterization according to ISOS protocols
B.- CHARACTERISATION; ADVANCED STUDIED ON STRUCTURE, OPTICAL PROPERTIES AND CHEMICAL COMPOSITION
The main feature of infrastructure is the application of characterisation methods and instruments for advanced studies of structure, optical properties and chemical composition. The accessible instrumentation is:
- X-ray GISAXS/GIWAXS line for in situ studies of OPV structure on nanoscale;
- Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry (SIMS) for studying chemical changes under degradation of OPV
- UV-Visible spectroscopic ellipsometry also used for detailing properties and changes in solar cell layers.
Instruments are typically used in combination with solar cells processed on the “Polymer solar cell processing facility" offered as a separate TNA. Solar cell degradation and nanoscale structure have been investigated in international collaboration.
LIMITATIONS OR CONSTRAINTS:
- The cells are printed in a standardised layout on a substrate of width 100mm and 1m length
TYPICAL SERVICES OR RESULTS
Enable users to fabricate cells in a standardised layout using their own materials and to test and compare cells to results generated under the same conditions and fabrication history
Participation to Research Projects:
Processing facility
- analysis of solar cells or materials layers by technical and scientific staff in collaboration with users
- joint research activities on materials screening and degradation studies
Characterization facility
- developing protocols for lifetime test of OPV, protocols for fast screening of materials and elucidate degradation mechanisms
- developing protocols for lifetime test of OPV and protocols for fast screening of materials formulations for R2R coating
