Heeger

Next Generation Solar Cells: The Research Effort Within the Recent EFRC Funding Awarded to IEE $19M from the Department of Energy (DOE)

I will focus here on the “plastic” solar cell challenge

Light weight flexible solar cells are a reality!

Konarka facility for roll-to-roll manufacturing of flexible ”plastic” solar modules

But --- We must improve the Efficiency ! Efficiency = jSCVOCFF where jSC = short circuit current VOC = open circuit voltage FF = Fill Factor

Synthesis: New donor polymers New Acceptor materials Goal: Molecular design of new materials for efficient harvesting of the photons from the sun Wudl and Bazan

Materials Science: Phase separation in donor-acceptor blends Molecular structure Nano-structure Goal: Optimum nanoscale morphology for charge separation and collection Chabynic, Nguyen, Kramer and AJH

Device science and solar cell fabrication and testing Goal: High efficiency with long lifetime AJH, Wudl, Bazan, Chabynic, Kramer and Nguyen

Potential Impact: Low Cost Conversion of Sunlight to Electricity Cost < $ 0.1/kW-hr (< 10 cents/kW-hr)

Self-Assembly of Bulk Heterojunction Nano-Materials by Spontaneous Phase Separation Goal: Efficiency > 10 - 15%

Low Cost Roll-to-Roll manufacturing by printing and coating technologies