Researchers create flexible films for photovoltaics

The hybrid polymers, called ORMOCERs, are the result of more than 20 years of research from Dr Sabine Amberg-Schwab (pictured right). In collaboration with Dr Klaus Noller from the Fraunhofer Institute for Process Engineering and Packaging in Freising, she created a barrier lacquer that was combined with silicon dioxide. "The results were astounding," said Amberg-Schwab. "We managed to create a barrier effect that was far better than expected from adding only the two layers." The scientist claims the coating material is easy to process and cure. "The films are considerably lighter, and flexible," she noted. "We believe they will make new production processes possible and enable significant reductions in the cost of manufacturing a photovoltaic module. This means that instead of working with individual glass plates, the solar cells could be printed onto a plastic film and then encapsulated with the barrier film to create photovoltaic modules on a roll." Amberg-Schwab is confident the patented process will make it possible to manufacture resiliant, high barrier films in a cost effective and environmentally friendly way in the not too distant future.