A new solar cell breakthrough could be the key to an energy revolution

Engineers at Swansea University have created the world’s first printable solar cells, a technological development that could revolutionize global energy production. 

Using what is known as a roll-to-roll process with slot die coating, engineers were able to develop what they call “fully printable” photocells according to their press release posted to Swansea University's website.

Photo: Swansea University website 

“The key was identifying the right solvent mix, one which dries as a film without dissolving the underlying layer,” said Dr. David Beynon. 

Dr. Beynon is the Senior Research Office at the United Kingdom's SPECIFIC Innovation and Technology Center and was one of the leaders of the photocell project. 

“X-ray diffraction analysis showed carbon electrode ink is capable of this when formulated with an orthogonal solvent system,” Dr. Beynon explained. 

“This innovative layer can be applied continuously and compatibly with the underlying layers at a low temperature and high speed,” Beynon added. 

Fully printable photocells is a term often used to describe today’s process of solar cell manufacturing but the definition wasn’t true until now according to Swansea University. 

Dr. Beynon and his team’s manufacturing method was able to replace expensive gold electrode material in order to create a more “low-cost” and scalable product. 

The scalability of this new type of solar cell manufacturing is the most important part of the discovery at Swansea University because the new process will be the first time our world has been able to produce photocells at scale, which is the key to mass adoption.  

“Perovskite solar cells show great promise in the drive towards cleaner, greener energy,” said Photovoltaic Research Lead Professor Trystan Watson. 

"The ability to produce a fully working device entirely in-line makes high-volume manufacturing easier and more economical and is a big step towards their commercialization,” Professor Watson continued. 

“It unlocks the idea of [a] manufacturing process where a solar ink is added [to] one end and a solar cell emerges from the other,” the Swansea professor added. 

The engineers at Swansea University published their findings in the peer-reviewed journal Advanced Materials where they noted that their new technology can increase power conversion rates by 13-14% along with some other important benefits. 

Swansea Unoversity's printable photocells can perform better than other technologies at higher temperatures and have “better long-term stability” according to the engineers press release. 

“The next challenge in printed PV for us at Swansea University, is to prove to people that these work,” said Professor Watson, something that will be key for the eventual mass adoption of the new photocells. 

"In order to achieve this, we need to start making something that really looks like a solar panel. We can then install them on buildings and understand how close we are to delivering on the promise of UK-based manufacturing of green renewables” Professor Watson added.