Research by engineers at Oregon State University has produced solar cell devices through an inkjet printer
Last Updated on Wednesday, 29 June 2011 07:34 Written by Ismail Selman Kimyacioglu Wednesday, 29 June 2011 07:33
The engineers successfully created “CIGS” solar devices through printing an ink made up of chalcopyrite onto substrates.
Chalcopyrite, which is made up of copper, indium, gallium and selenium (CIGS) is very efficient at converting solar power even at extremely thin densities. The engineers at the university printed the ink made up of these elements onto substrates to demonstrate their findings.
The implications of this experiment include a reduction of raw material use of 90 percent, as well as a significantly lower cost of production for solar energy cells. A number of scientists involved in the study stated that the future of solar power could be positively affected by this discovery and in future this could lead to solar cells built directly into roofing materials.
The university published the findings in a journal, Solar Energy Materials and Solar Cells, and has already applied for a patent for the discovery, though further research will be required to increase the cell’s efficiency. The work was supported by the US Department of Energy, the university’s Venture Development Fund and the Daegu Gyeongbuk Institute of Science and Technology.
Chih-hung Chang, a professor at the university in the School of Chemical, Biological and Environmental Engineering, stated: “This is very promising and could be an important new technology to add to the solar energy field.
“Until now no one had been able to create working CIGS solar devices with inkjet technology. Some of the materials we want to work with for the most advanced solar cells, such as indium, are relatively expensive.
“If that’s what you’re using, you can’t really afford to waste it and the inkjet approach almost eliminates the waste.”
The researchers added in their conclusion: “In summary, a simple, fast, and direct-write, solution-based deposition process is developed for the fabrication of high quality CIGS solar cells.
“Safe, cheap, and air-stable inks can be prepared easily by controlling the composition of low-cost metal salt precursors at a molecular level.”
