Nov 20 2014
Armor, a world specialist in ink chemistry and printing technologies, and Cambrios Technologies Corporation, the leader in silver nanowire-based solutions for the transparent conductor markets, today announced the development of a scalable manufacturing process allowing Armor to mass produce Organic Photovoltaic (OPV) devices, in line with its sustainable development policy. Armor has designed flexible solar modules using Cambrios’ ClearOhm® silver nanowires as electrodes.
(Photo: Business Wire)
OPV technology is maturing. However, one of the hurdles in achieving high volume, appropriate costs and required performance is the traditional transparent conductor used in OPV devices, indium tin oxide (ITO). ITO is brittle, expensive and not scalable to very large volumes without huge capital investment.
According to François Barreau, marketing manager of Armor Sustainable Energies division (ASE), “The implementation of transparent, flexible and highly conductive ITO-free electrodes is a high priority for Armor and a major step for the OPV industry. With the recent progress in developing a sustainable, high volume manufacturing process using ClearOhm electrodes, we are making OPV production an industrial reality. We will continue to develop such industrial alliances to support the commercial growth of the OPV market worldwide.”
“We are thrilled to have achieved such a milestone together with Armor,” said Rahul Gupta, senior director of business development at Cambrios. “After successfully gaining traction in the touch sensor market, ClearOhm material is now enabling new high volume applications. Our solution provides benefits that will allow Armor to create differentiated products and introduce a new generation of solar cells.”
Through their partnership, Armor and Cambrios have successfully achieved a cost effective, scalable roll to roll production process for transparent electrodes. The silver nanowire based electrodes are not only highly conductive and transparent but also enable solar cells that are flexible, foldable, formed into different shapes and even wrapped around a pillar or building.
Armor and Cambrios will demonstrate the benefits of ClearOhm ink based OPV devices, at IDTechEx’s Printed Electronics USA to be held in Santa Clara, California from Nov. 19-20, 2014.