02.08.16
Heliatek’s R&D teams reached a record conversion efficiency of 13.2% for an OPV multi-junction cell, setting a new world record for the direct conversion of sunlight into electricity using organic photovoltaic cells. The measurement was independently confirmed by Fraunhofer CSP.
Due to the low light and high temperature behavior of the organic semiconductor, the electricity generation of the newly developed cells corresponds to the output of conventional solar cells with 16% to 17% efficiency when both are under real world conditions.
This new result confirms the technology position of Heliatek as demonstrated by its continuous progress from 3% to more than 13% efficiency over the last 10 years. It also supports its roadmap towards 15% efficient organic solar cells. The result further validates Heliatek’s technology approach of using vacuum deposition of small molecules on plastic films.
“This success is based on our chemical research for new organic absorber materials,” said Dr. Martin Pfeiffer, CTO of Heliatek. “Key to this success is the close cooperation of our physics and chemistry R&D teams, which leads to an optimal combination of the properties of this new solar cell design.”
“It validates our choice to internalize our R&D, both by developing new absorber molecules and optimizing the device architecture,” added Thibaud Le Séguillon, CEO of Heliatek. “This will provide the baseline for efficiency in our large-volume manufacturing line. With our HeliaFilm, we are clearly executing our strategy to provide de-carbonized, de-centralized energy generation directly on buildings all over the world.”
The world-record cell is a multi-junction cell combining three different absorbers. Each of them is dedicated to efficiently convert green-, red- or near-infrared light of the wavelength range between 450 and 950 nm into electricity. These absorber molecules have been developed and are patented by Heliatek.
Due to the low light and high temperature behavior of the organic semiconductor, the electricity generation of the newly developed cells corresponds to the output of conventional solar cells with 16% to 17% efficiency when both are under real world conditions.
This new result confirms the technology position of Heliatek as demonstrated by its continuous progress from 3% to more than 13% efficiency over the last 10 years. It also supports its roadmap towards 15% efficient organic solar cells. The result further validates Heliatek’s technology approach of using vacuum deposition of small molecules on plastic films.
“This success is based on our chemical research for new organic absorber materials,” said Dr. Martin Pfeiffer, CTO of Heliatek. “Key to this success is the close cooperation of our physics and chemistry R&D teams, which leads to an optimal combination of the properties of this new solar cell design.”
“It validates our choice to internalize our R&D, both by developing new absorber molecules and optimizing the device architecture,” added Thibaud Le Séguillon, CEO of Heliatek. “This will provide the baseline for efficiency in our large-volume manufacturing line. With our HeliaFilm, we are clearly executing our strategy to provide de-carbonized, de-centralized energy generation directly on buildings all over the world.”
The world-record cell is a multi-junction cell combining three different absorbers. Each of them is dedicated to efficiently convert green-, red- or near-infrared light of the wavelength range between 450 and 950 nm into electricity. These absorber molecules have been developed and are patented by Heliatek.