A new roll-to-roll printing system that eliminates steps in the manufacture of plastic solar cells may increase production speed and reduce cost. Polymer photovoltaics aren’t as efficient as silicon ones, but they are lightweight and cheap, making them desirable for portable electronics. Plastic solar cells can be easily integrated into building materials and smart fabrics.
University of Michigan researchers are working to boost the efficiency plastic solar cells from the current rate of only about 3.5 percent to 12 to 15 percent to make them competitive with silicon and thin-film cells.
What's Driving This Trend
- Roll-to-roll Printing
- The roll-to-roll printing system allows for faster and cheaper production of plastic solar cells.
- Polymer Photovoltaics
- Advancements in polymer photovoltaics can lead to lightweight and affordable solar cells for portable electronics.
- Improved Efficiency
- Boosting the efficiency of plastic solar cells can make them competitive with silicon and thin-film cells.
Who This Affects Most
- Renewable Energy
- The renewable energy industry can leverage roll-to-roll printing technology to increase production speed and reduce costs of solar cell manufacturing.
- Electronics
- The electronics industry can benefit from the advancements in polymer photovoltaics, as it enables the integration of lightweight and affordable solar cells into portable electronic devices.
- Construction
- The construction industry can explore the use of plastic solar cells that can easily be integrated into building materials, enabling the development of energy-efficient and sustainable structures.
