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Inkjet Printing Solar Cells

Posted by samzenpus on from the power-to-the-printer dept.

cylonlover writes "Traditional solar cell production techniques are usually time consuming and require expensive vacuum systems or toxic chemicals. Depositing chemical compounds such as CIGS on a substrate using vapor phase deposition also wastes most of the expensive material in the process. For the first time, engineers at Oregon State University (OSU) have now developed a process to create 'CIGS' solar cells with inkjet printing technology that allows for precise patterning to reduce raw material waste by 90 percent and significantly lower the cost of producing solar cells with promising, yet expensive compounds."

9 of 72 comments (clear)

  1. Uhh by sortius_nod · · Score: 4, Informative

    Not true that it's the "first time". There's already photovoltaic paint that can be printed or painted on:

    http://www.abc.net.au/tv/newinventors/txt/s3008638.htm

    1. Re:Uhh by sortius_nod · · Score: 2

      Sorry to reply to myself, but in addition, the "solar paint" mentioned in my link is nothing new, the invention was being able to make the paint water based.

    2. Re:Uhh by mcvos · · Score: 2

      Dutch companies are working on plasma printing as well.

      Sounds awesomer than inkjet printing. I say we go with plasma printing.

  2. "expensive compounds" by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

    I bet the expensive compounds are still cheaper than inkjet refill cartridges.

  3. Wake Me Up by Normal+Dan · · Score: 2, Insightful

    When they hit the market

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    1. Re:Wake Me Up by pnot · · Score: 3, Insightful

      ... and then when they hit the market, the Slashdot discussion will consist of 50 comments along the lines of "This isn't news, this is old tech, I remember reading about this back in 2011"...

      Seriously, if you *only* want to hear about innovations once they've hit the market, why are you reading a tech news site? Just browse the Amazon electronics department instead and you'll be safe.

  4. Economical Solar Panels by mkiwi · · Score: 5, Interesting

    FYI, most economical solar panels are produced with screen printing. A liquid (metalloid) paste is pushed through a screen onto a wafer of doped Si and baked in an oven to solidify the paste. A great article on screen printing for solar cells can be found here:

    http://www.appliedmaterials.com/sites/default/files/Screen_Printing_Backgrounder_0.pdf

    These researchers will have to come up with much better than 5% efficiency if they want to compete with mass market solar panels. In other words, this is a great PhD dissertation, but lots of work needs to be done to refine the procedure in order to be competitive in the marketplace.

  5. The point of TFA by steveha · · Score: 3, Informative

    There are several upvoted posts that have nothing to do with the actual article. Since I read TFA I can summarize the important points for you.

    They have developed a way to use inkjet technology to "print" a solar cell that works. The chief advantage of this system is that there is much much less wastage compared to other means of producing a solar cell. Instead of using silicon, they are working with more exotic materials, with the potential to make better/cheaper solar cells than silicon ones.

    At the moment their first prototypes are 5% efficient. TFA discusses the point that this is nowhere near good enough to start selling these solar panels yet; luckily enough the people working on this already know this fact, no need to point it out here on Slashdot. They say that with additional research they hope to bring it to 12%, but TFA didn't say why they mentioned that 12% number. (Enough for commercial success? Easily achievable? The maximum they think they can get with current "ink" formula? Who knows?)

    My favorite quote:

    "Some of the materials we want to work with for the most advanced solar cells, such as indium, are relatively expensive," Chang said. "If that's what you're using you can't really afford to waste it, and the inkjet approach almost eliminates the waste."

    The engineers are also studying other compounds that could be used with the inkjet technology that could cost even less. If they are able to reduce costs enough, the researchers say it also offers the prospect of creating solar cells that could be built directly into roofing materials.

    I like the roofing materials idea, because in many places the peak electrical demand is to run air conditioning on hot sunny days. In those places, solar roofing tiles would be a win/win and should pay for themselves quickly.

    steveha

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  6. Re:Wake me when... by dylan_- · · Score: 2

    Take a look at this graph, from this article about solar price trends.

    That graph is misleading, as it looks like the pace of improvement is actually slowing (which is what confused the AC who replied to you). It would be better plotted as Watts per Dollar, which shows the trend clearly. Here's that same data presented that way.

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