DEvelopment of TRAnsparent CONductors for transparent photovoltaic cells. (DETRACON)

Purpose and goal

The project DETRACON aims to develop alternative transparent conductors for TPVs, that will replace the conventional rare-earth element transparent conductors. During the project, the manufacturing and processing of novel transparent conductor materials, such as reduced graphene oxide, polymeric conductors and Ag nanowires, will be explored and optimized towards the tailored needs of the TPVs. The final target by the end of the project is to manufacture a commercially available demo kit based on transparent photovoltaic cells.

Expected effects and result

RISE and N-Ink AB will develop transparent hole-conducting and electron-conducting materials, respectively, for printed photovoltaic cells. These materials will be then transfered to HMU where the photovoltaic cells will be manufactured and characterized. By the end of the project, we intent to manufacture a demonstrator based on these transparent conductors that will promote the use of printed electronic materials in the photovoltaic technology, and assist the company N-Ink AB in the commercialization of their n-type conducting ink materials.

Planned approach and implementation

The project is divided in 7 Work Packages. In the first WP, the transparent conductors and perspective solar cells will be chosen and designed. Then, in WP2 , the transparent conductors will be manufactured and printed, and subsequently in WP3 the photovoltaic cells based on these materials will be manufactured and characterized. WP4 will focus in the manufacturing of a transparent demo kit based on these solar cells and in WP5 a sustainability analysis will be conducted on these systems. Finally, WP6 and WP7 will be focused on project dissemination and project management.