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Reference Number	EP/I013288/1
Title	Ageing of printable polymer solar cells
Status	Completed
Energy Categories	RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES(Solar Energy, Photovoltaics) 100%;
Research Types	Basic and strategic applied research 100%
Science and Technology Fields	PHYSICAL SCIENCES AND MATHEMATICS (Chemistry) 50%; PHYSICAL SCIENCES AND MATHEMATICS (Physics) 50%;
UKERC Cross Cutting Characterisation	Not Cross-cutting 100%
Principal Investigator	Professor I Samuel No email address given Physics and Astronomy University of St Andrews
Award Type	Standard
Funding Source	EPSRC
Start Date	01 June 2011
End Date	30 November 2013
Duration	30 months
Total Grant Value	£589,517
Industrial Sectors	Energy
Region	Scotland
Programme	Energy : Energy
Investigators	Principal Investigator	Professor I Samuel , Physics and Astronomy, University of St Andrews (99.999%)
	Other Investigator	Professor J Loos , College of Science and Engineering, University of Glasgow (0.001%)
	Industrial Collaborator	Project Contact , Research Partner in China (0.000%) Project Contact , ECN (Energy research Centre of The Netherlands), The Netherlands (0.000%)
Web Site
Objectives
Abstract	Solar power is by far the most abundant renewable energy source. However, at present its use is limited by the high cost of solar cells, so that we continue to obtain most of our power from fossil fuels. Polymer (plastic) solar cells are an exciting research field that aims to address this problem, as polymer solar cells could be made by simple manufacturing processes such as roll to roll coating. The result would be much lower cost solar cells, with much lower energy of production. Most research to date has focussed on the efficiency of such solar cells, and good progress has been made, leading to efficiencies approximately two thirds of commercial amorphous silicon solar cells.In this proposal we address the most important remaining issue, namely understanding and enhancing the lifetime of polymer solar cells. To do this we will combine advanced photophysical, morphological and chemical analysis of solar cells before, during and after operation to gain new insight into the factors controlling degradation of such cells. This will provide a solid foundation for developing strategies for extending the solar cell lifetime in the later part of the project.The operation of polymer solar cells depends critically on the nanometre scale arrangement of the materials, so we will use sophisticated electron tomography techniques to study the nanoscale morphology and how it changes with device operation. This will be complemented by optical and electronic measurements performed in-situ on operating solar cells. A further innovation will be to make nanoscale perforation of an encapsulation layer and combine it with electron beam techniques to study local degradation with nanometre resolution. This challenging programme requires collaboration between world-leading research groups in St Andrews, Changchun, and Glasgow to access the range of expertise and facilities to make major progress, and will lead to a new UK-China collaboration
Publications	(none)
Final Report	(none)
Added to Database	06/12/10