Solar panels efficiency breakthrough, Future of renewable energy; Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology Scientists Realize Large-Area Organic Solar Cells that are Low-cost, Flexible, and Efficient #TechLife #CISION #SolarCells #renewableenergy

"Despite their massive commercialization potential, however, there is a catch. Most OSCs are produced using a technique called "spin coating," which allows for high PCEs but makes for poor scalability. Additionally, OSCs with flexible electrodes use indium tin oxide (ITO), which makes them expensive and too fragile for realizing large-area modules. Thus, if the commercial promise of OSCs is to be realized, they must overcome their dependence on ITO. 

This is where Dr. Hongkyu Kang and Prof. Kwanghee Lee from the Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology (GIST) in Korea come in. In their paper made available online on 16 April 2022 and published in Volume 12, Issue 21 of Advanced Energy Materials on 2 June, 2022, they put forth a new method to create OSCs using zinc oxide (ZnO) that overcame the issues of cost and scalability without comprising the PCE. 

In particular, this research was the result of an industry-university collaboration, in which GIST developed the original technology for the first time in Korea and transferred it to MSWAY Co., Ltd., which had been entirely dependent on foreign imports as the domestic production of ITO-based electrodes was impracticable. With the new technology, it is expected that a value chain will be established for the commercialization of OSCs with construction and equipment companies, strengthening the value of industry-university joint research." 

Read more.