Commercialising Novel Organic Semi-Conducting Materials

Solvay is an international chemical Group committed to sustainable development with a clear focus on innovation and operational excellence. It realizes over 90% of its sales in markets where it is among the top 3 global leaders. Solvay has worked with CPI in the development and prototyping of new materials to make organic photovoltaics. This development has resulted in a demonstration of large area organic photovoltaic cells that can be put on transparent window glass and thus allow harnessing solar power by using the surface of glass buildings.

CPI’s National Printable Electronics Centre has been working with Solvay to develop and work towards commercialising novel organic semi-conducting materials in the production of photovoltaics.

Successful completion of TSB-backed project PPAG working with PolySolar and Pilkington has led to the demonstration of large area organic photovoltaic cells, which have been produced at CPI. The technology allows the production of solar cells on transparent window glass (something that can’t be done with conventional technologies).

CPI is ideally placed to take this wafer-thin technology to commercialisation, having worked at theoretical levels through to demonstrator production. The successful project outcome is expected to lead to a follow-up project, to scale-up development to industrial sizes. Working with Solvay on this project, CPI is driving the innovation of this technology from theory to the real world products of tomorrow, today.