This report discusses the project results and lessons learnt to date for Monash University’s Polymer PV Study. The project aims to bring all-polymer solar cells closer to commercialisation.
Report extract
Polymer solar cells have the potential to contribute to renewable energy generation, being utilised in installations and situations for which conventional silicon solar cells are not suited. In particular their light weight nature, mechanical flexibility, colourfulness and transparency may see them utilised in portable power applications, built-in photovoltaics, and situations where absolute cost of manufacture is the main concern. Limiting the development and commercialization of polymer solar cells is their relatively low efficiency and poor stability. This project seeks to address issues facing the commercialization of solar cells based on blends of semiconducting polymers by developing materials that are stable and that can be manufactured at scale. This project also seeks to employ novel techniques for the rapid screening of new materials foreshortening the development cycle.