Functional Materials and Devices

The growing demand for energy on Earth requires the utilization of different strategies for energy, especially for the use of free available solar energy. The latest development in the field of photovoltaics is based on the electrical conductivity of organic materials that can be assambeled in very thin and light devices to produce solar cells. The challenge for producing efficient systems is the choice of appropriate materials, the concept for the component's construction and its processing cost. At Fraunhofer IAP we concentrate on the use of solution-processable materials that are processed with suitable printing techniques. Our research is focused on the development of appropriate printing formulations and the evaluation of printing techniques that are suitable for operating in roll-to-roll processes, thereby allowing an individual design and high performance of the modules produced by reliable process control.