Printed Flexible and Ultra-Lightweight Solar Modules
At the “Solar Factory of the Future,” machines, processes, and materials are being further developed to enable the large-scale printing of photovoltaics. Using a roll-to-roll process, both organic and perovskite-based solar modules are manufactured on film, resulting in modules that are extremely flexible, wafer-thin, and ultra-lightweight.
In addition, the solar factory is developing printed solar modules on glass that are designed for maximum efficiency and transparency to visible light.
- Building integration,
- Agri-PV
- Aerospace
- Textile integration
- Windows/glass facades
Flexible and ultra-lightweight solar modules on film:
- Scaling of flexible organic and perovskite-based PV modules (up to 1400 cm²)
- High-throughput optimization of materials and coating methods
- Roll-to-roll slot-die printing and on-the-fly laser patterning
- Adaptation of the transmission spectrum to the action spectrum of plants
- Maximization of specific module power (watts/gram)
- Lifetime studies and optimizations
- Printed barriers
High-efficiency and highly transparent solar modules on glass:
- Scaling of organic and perovskite-based PV modules on glass (from 0.1 cm² to 200 cm²)
- High-precision, selective laser structuring using ultrashort-pulse lasers
- Automated solar module manufacturing using a robotic platform
- Electrical simulations for optimizing the module layout
- Fluid dynamic simulations for optimizing coating processes
- Maximizing module efficiency (current OPV world record holder at 14.5%)
- Optimizing light transmittance in the visible spectrum
- Combining solar modules with printed electrochromic layers
- Lifetime testing and optimization
- Various roll-to-roll coating systems
- Laser structuring
- Characterization and encapsulation of organic and perovskite-based solar modules
- Various ultrashort-pulse lasers
- Aging chambers for accelerated life testing
- Industrial Projects
- Joint Public Funding Projects
- Consulting
The Solar Factory
As the heart of our photovoltaic research, the technical center establishes the process engineering framework for our technology platform. To this end, all essential equipment was procured in 2014 and installed in a 200 m² laboratory and characterization facility. With the help of this equipment, we are able to develop new synthesis routes that also allow for the production of larger quantities of ink (on a liter scale) for roll-to-roll printing. Solar modules are manufactured by combining various printing techniques with laser structuring processes. This enables the production of complete components in a single step.
