Inkjet solar cells are solar cells manufactured by low-cost, high tech methods that use an inkjet printer to lay down the semiconductor material and the electrodes onto a solar cell substrate. This approach is being developed independently at various locations including the University of New South Wales, Oregon State University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and Saule Technologies Although inkjet printed solar cells were not a major focus previously due to their relatively low efficiencies, the appearance of perovskite solar cells, has led to a renewed interest in the development of inkjet printed solar cells, due to their nature of being solution processable. Perovskite solar cells currently are up to an efficiency of 25.2%, and fully inkjet printed perovskite solar cells have been shown to be able to have over 17% stabilized power conversion efficiency (SPCE).
History The first case of printed electronics was seen in 1903 when Albert Hanson filed a patent for "printed" wire. After that the radio drove the industry of printed electronics forward. Until recently inkjet printers have not been used in the printed electronics industry. Industry has decided to move towards inkjet printing because of its low cost and flexibility of use. One of these used is the inkjet solar cell. The first instance of constructing a solar cell with an inkjet printer was by Konarka in 2008. In 2011 Oregon State University was able to discover a way to create CIGS solar cells using an inkjet printer. In the same year MIT was able to create a solar cell using an inkjet printer on paper. The use of an inkjet printer to make solar cells is very new and is still being researched. In 2014, Olga Malinkiewicz presented her inkjet printing manufacturing process for perovskite sheets in Boston (USA) during the MRS fall meeting - for which she received MIT Technology review's innovators under 35 award.
How they are made In general inkjet solar cells are made by using an inkjet printer to put down the semiconductor material and electrodes onto a solar cell substrate. Both organic and inorganic solar cells can be made using the inkjet method. Inkjet printed inorganic solar cells used to be CIGS solar cells. The organic solar cells are polymer solar cells. The inkjet printing of hybrid perovskite solar cells is also possible, and is now a primary focus. Inkjet printing is even being explored as a method to add the other cell components to silicon based solar cells.The most important component of the ink is the functional material: a metal salt mixture (CIGS), a polymer fullerene blend (polymer solar cells) or a precursor of mixed organic and inorganic salts (perovskite solar cells). These components are dissolved in an appropriate solvent. Additional components might be added to affect the viscosity and the surface tension of the ink for improved printability and wetting on the substrate. The ink is contained in a cartridge from where it is transferred onto a substrate which can vary. The printing is accomplished usually by a piezoelectric driver in the nozzles of the printhead, that is programmed to apply pre-set patterns of pressure to eject droplets. In most cases several layers of functional materials are deposited on top of each other to generate a working solar cell. The entire printing process can be done in ambient conditions, though in most cases further heat treatments are needed. Important factors for the efficiency of inkjet printed organic solar cells are the inkjet latency time, the inkjet printing table temperature, and the effect of the chemical properties of the polymer donor.
Advantages The main advantage to printing solar cells with an inkjet printer is the low cost of production. The reason it is cheaper than other methods is because no vacuum is necessary which makes the equipment cheaper. Also, the ink is a low cost metal salt blend reducing the cost of the solar cells. There is very little waste of material in comparison to other methods like vapor phase deposition when using inkjet printers to lay down the semiconductor material. This is because the printer is able to create precise patterning with little waste.
Issues The primary issue with inkjet printed solar cells is not actually with the cells themselves, but making sure that the manufacturing is optimized, such as the inks for printing and the drying processes; this requires the control and optimization of multiple variables, such as the "viscosity, volatility, and surface tension" which can be modified by changing the solvent and modifying the solute. Additionally, there are concerns with the toxicity of both the solvents that are used and the semiconductor materials for the solar cells which are being used.
Inkjet Printing for Silicon Solar Cells Inkjet printing is being explored as a deposition technique for the electrode layers for silicon solar cells. Silicon solar cells require front conductive contacts (usually Ag) in order to assist in current flow and maximize the efficiency of the cell. This does present a compromise between shading parts of the surface of the cell and improving current flow. Although the use of inkjet printing for the deposition of this silver conductive grid has so far resulted in lower cell efficiencies than other deposition techniques, it is beneficial because it allows for the creation of an incredibly precise grid of any pattern without the need for complex and more wasteful manufacturing techniques such as lithography or etching. Another major technique that can be used to reduce optical losses (increase light absorption) in solar cells is to create surface texture, because it reduces reflection losses. Although it can increase efficiency dramatically, this texturizing is not usually used because of the more complicated and costly manufacturing techniques that would then be required, such as photolithography. However, inkjet printing offers a chance to make this easier and therefore more accessible, because a patterned mask could be printed onto the surface which could then be etched (perhaps using a solution).
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