Konarka Tests The First Inkjet Printed Solar Cells
By Nick March 6, 2008
Konarka Technologies is a company which is trying to develop new ways of producing solar energy, with its headquarters in Lowell, Massachusetts and it was founded in 2001. On 4th of March they announced that they have successfully tested the manufacturing process of inkjet printed solar cells. This project was published in a journal called “Advanced Materials” entitled “High Photovoltaic Performance of Inkjet Printed Polymer:Fullerene Blends” and it was developed by a Konarka team consisting of Dr. Stelios A. Choulis, Claudia N. Hoth, Dr. Pavel Schilinsky and Dr. Christoph J. Brabec.
According to Rick Hess, president and CEO at Konarka, this a big step for more efficient solar cells and here are a few of his words: “demonstrating the use of inkjet printing technology as a fabrication tool for highly efficient solar cells and sensors with small area requirements is a major milestone”, also he said: “this essential breakthrough in the field of printed solar cells positions Konarka as an emerging leader in printed photovoltaics”.
Inkjet printing can be used anytime, anywhere because it’s compatible with various materials and substances, and it’s an easy-to-use technique.
6 Responses to “Konarka Tests The First Inkjet Printed Solar Cells”
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Good article. Nanosolar also has a similar product, Nanosolar Powersheets. They use a similar process involving solar printing technology. Solar is definitely the future.
Is manufacturing the stumbling block to widespread solar-cell use? I thought it was cell inefficiency.
@woundedduck
- it all goes hand in hand, doesn’t it? I mean, easier fabrication means lower cost which means bigger fields of solar panels. The main stumbling block seems to me to be high cost, not inefficiency - we can just build bigger solar panels to counter that inefficiency.
I TRIED IT ON MY PRINTER AND USED THE SAME COLOR AS IN THE PICTURE. IT DID NOT WORK!!!!
TOTAL SCAM! MAYBE THEY SELL MAGENTA INK OR SOMETHING AND WANT YOU TO USE UP YOUR COLOR INK!!!
puttputt… I seriously hope you’re kidding cause if you’re not, then you’re just retarded. Pretty sure you’re joking though and props for playing the everyday American retard… pretty funny!
thanks much, man