High Throughput Processing for PV

About

Our vision is to develop groundbreaking technologies to revolutionize the way solar technology is produced and used. We develop high-throughput methods that make it possible to study many material combinations and process parameters in parallel. Printing is the most effective way to install structures on large surfaces. This is a paradigm shift in manufacturing with the potential to drive solar power generation at extremely low costs.

Research Topics

Printing and coating of semiconductors in solution has an outstanding potential to increase throughput in production and reduce solar energy costs. The development of the microstructure during drying and curing is extremely important for the performance of printed solar cells. In our team, we investigate the influence of process conditions and ink composition on efficiency using methods similar to those used in large-scale technical systems. We specialize in combinatorial methods on continuous coating plants to shorten the “Lab-to-Fab” transition time. Our group mainly focuses on:

  • Process and material development for 3rd generation photovoltaics
  • Continuous combinatorial processes for solution-processed semiconductors
  • Basic understanding of microstructure development during drying of thin films
  • Continuous characterization methods and process control
  • “Lab-to-Fab” device and process scaling

Contact

Michael Wagner

IET-2

Building HIERN-Auf-AEG / Room 16.1.11

+49 911/5302-99357

E-Mail

Our infrastructure

is specially designed for printing and coating soluble semiconductors. It offers maximum flexibility in terms of substrate, material and process properties for printing solar modules. This includes systems for process development, material evaluation and module production:

  • Fully equipped chemical laboratory with cleanroom functions and semiconductor material storage and handling
  • State-of-the-art printing (Ink-Jet, Screen, Flexo) and coating laboratory for nm precision in Z-direction on rigid and flexible substrates
  • Fully automatic multi-head R2R printing and coating system for the processing of functional electronic, optoelectronic and dielectric materials up to 40 cm web width
  • Multiple galvo head equipped batch and R2R capable laser systems (ns, fs) for structuring single and multilayer stacks with nm precision in the Z direction and lateral resolution in the micrometer range
  • Backend laboratory for contacting, encapsulating and packaging of solar modules
  • Accredited electrocharacterization laboratory for test structures, solar cells and PV modules
  • Non-destructive imaging laboratory with spectroscopic and hyperspectral imaging and scanning methods (Raman, FTIR, PL, EL, Thermography, AFM, REM)
  • Accelerated lifetime testing with variable temperatures (up to 1000 °C), illumination (up to 500 suns) and atmospheres (controlled humidity, O2 or other gases)

Members

Building HIERN-Immerwahrstr / Room 1.10+49 9131-12538232
Building HIERN-Auf-AEG / Room 16.1.12+49 911/5302-99356
Building HIERN-Auf-AEG / Room 16.1.14+49 911/5302-99353
Building HIERN-Auf-AEG / Room 16.1.11+49 911/5302-99357
Building HIERN-Auf-AEG / Room 16.1.16+49 911/5302-99207

Michael Wagner

Group Leader HTP (High Throughput Processing)

Building HIERN-Auf-AEG / Room 16.1.11+49 911/5302-99357
Building HIERN-Auf-AEG / Room 16.1.11+49 911/5302-99357
Building HIERN-Immerwahrstr / Room 1.12+49 9131-12538339

News

"pv magazine" reports on newly developed strategy in the field of materials research
January 9, 2025

"pv magazine" reports on newly developed strategy in the field of materials research

By skillfully combining AI with fully automated high-throughput synthesis, new organic molecules were found within a few weeks that could be used to build solar cells with above-average efficiency - including those that outperform other state-of-the-art materials. The results of the research work were published in the renowned journal Science, and "pv magazine" is currently reporting on them.

World record: Organic solar module achieves 14.46 percent efficiency
December 18, 2023

World record: Organic solar module achieves 14.46 percent efficiency

The most efficient organic solar module in the world comes from FAU and HI ERN: it achieves a new certified record efficiency of 14.46 percent, which beats the previous world record for organic photovoltaic modules (OPV) of 13.1 percent. This proves that organic photovoltaics can be established as an alternative to silicon & co. in the long term.

Presidium of the Bavarian State Parliament visits "Solar Factory of the Future“
October 10, 2022

Presidium of the Bavarian State Parliament visits "Solar Factory of the Future“

As part of this year's regional visit, the delegation also stopped at the Energy Campus Nuremberg (EnCN). Here, the delegates were able to see for themselves the progress of the "solar factory of the future".

Team High Throughput Processing for Photovoltaics at HI ERN starts operation!
September 1, 2021

Team High Throughput Processing for Photovoltaics at HI ERN starts operation!

HI ERN is part of the EU-project VIPERLAB
June 2, 2021

HI ERN is part of the EU-project VIPERLAB

HI ERN is part of the EU-project VIPERLAB. In VIPERLAB a „Fully connected virtual and physical perovskite photovoltaics Lab“ will be developed by integrating 15 research institutions.

Last Modified: 20.09.2024