Source: Panasonic
Headline: From OLED to Solar Cells: The Precision and Potential of Panasonic’s Industrial Inkjet Printing
Perovskite solar cells created using inkjet technology.
Improved transparency makes them practical for windows.
Yoshida: We see two paths for evolution. One is further improvement in terms of resolution. The other is compatibility with high-viscosity inks; once this has been achieved, it will be possible to precisely apply ink containing dispersed particles, expanding the range of applications.
We are particularly interested in perovskite solar cells, which are expected to become the next generation of solar cells.
Our proprietary large-area coating method utilizing inkjet technology makes it possible to uniformly coat the core power generating material onto large glass substrates. This enables thin and lightweight designs that were not possible with conventional products, while maintaining high power generation efficiency.
Nakatani: Another major advantage of inkjet technology is its high material utilization efficiency and the resulting design flexibility. With conventional manufacturing methods, it was sometimes necessary to coat the entire surface with material and then remove the excess. In contrast, inkjet technology precisely deposits ink only in the areas where the power generation layer is required. This reduces wasteful use of expensive materials.
Usui: The ability to apply the material precisely to the target area creates unique value. For example, by using a striped coating pattern for the power-generating layer, it is possible to create window glass that combines power-generating capability with translucence. A major advantage of the inkjet method is that a window can generate energy but still function as a window. Of course, not needing a vacuum environment during manufacturing and minimizing material waste are also extremely important from the standpoint of energy conservation and sustainability.
Yoshida: In this way, our inkjet technology brings two values to perovskite solar cells: “large area and high efficiency” and “high design flexibility.” This will make it possible to install solar cells in locations previously considered too difficult—such as the walls and windows of buildings—and we believe that this will contribute to the realization of a sustainable society.