Dr David Jones, Professor Andrew Holmes and Dr Scott Watkins holding a sheet of the cells.
(L-R) Dr David Jones, Professor Andrew Holmes and Dr Scott Watkins.
Scientists have produced the largest flexible, plastic solar cells in Australia – 10 times the size of what they were previously able to – thanks to a new solar cell printer that has been installed at CSIRO.
The printer has allowed researchers from the Victorian Organic Solar Cell Consortium to print organic photovoltaic cells the size of an A3 sheet of paper.
According to materials scientist Dr Scott Watkins, printing cells on such a large scale opens up a huge range of possibilities for pilot applications.
“There are so many things we can do with cells this size,” he says. “We can set them into advertising signage, powering lights and other interactive elements. We can even embed them into laptop cases to provide backup power for the machine inside.”
Using semiconducting inks, the researchers print the cells straight onto paper-thin flexible plastic or steel. With the ability to print at speeds of up to ten metres per minute, this means they can produce one cell every two seconds.
As the researchers continue to scale up their equipment, the possibilities will become even greater for this technology. Eventually they hope to see solar cells being laminated to the windows that line skyscrapers and embedded onto roofing materials.
Read more in the media release.
14th February 2018 at 3:29 pm
It’s been 5 years since these printable solar cells came out. How are things looking now? Will they become widespread in homes? Any new developments?
27th January 2015 at 10:45 am
This will allow for the ease of accessibility and reduced cost of solar cells. However, printing the device does not necessarily optimise the power conversion efficiencies. The researchers most definitely would need to improve various device structural properties and materials in order to enhance PCEs.
6th June 2013 at 4:14 pm
I can see this technology having a place in undeveloped countries where many communities are not on the electricity grid.
Imagine panels cheaply applied to roofing materials connected to batteries, so that enough energy could be produced during daylight hours to provide power and light at night.
Keep up the good work. You are on a winner with this one.
5th June 2013 at 1:41 pm
These would be useful for all kinds of outdoor activities….camping etc…
5th June 2013 at 11:30 am
Are those solars cells available for commercial sales ?
5th June 2013 at 3:39 pm
Hi Arie. CSIRO and our partners are doing the research so we’re looking to work with companies who will, in time, make them commercially available.