Long-lasting solar cells

Chemicals and materials firm, Cytec Industries, is working with European nanoelectronics research institute, IMEC, to develop a technology that will extend the lifetime of organic photovoltaics.

The work will centre on increasing the life expectancy of organic solar cells to over five years so that they can be used for everyday applications. While recent research into organic solar cells has largely focused on increasing the conversion efficiency, Cytec claims that work on the operational lifetime of organic solar cells will be crucial to commercialising the technology.

Working towards enhancing the stability of the cells, the research team is hoping to combine knowledge in chemical synthesis and materials processing to develop an encapsulation technology from the degradation sources of oxygen and water to form a barrier.

According to IMEC, this could help steady the nanomorphology of the photo-active blend of polymers and fullerene acceptor molecules that are prone to segregation in organic cells.