Solar Cells Info

* The Future of Thin-Film and Organic Photovoltaics Manufacturing
* Thin Film Photovoltaics Markets: 2008 and Beyond
* The Future of Organic Electronics Manufacturing
Source: NanoMarkets.com
http://www.nanomarkets.net/products/prod_detail.cfm?prod=3&id=281

The major goal of this report is to analyze and quantify the markets for OPV materials of all kinds. The report includes discussions of both “pure” OPV (using small molecules and primarily polymers) and hybrid approaches to OPV (notably dye sensitive cells.) Coverage includes the latest R&D and commercialization efforts in the area of electrodes, encapsulation and substrates, as well as the core absorber layers,

This report also discusses the products and strategies of the key players and companies discussed comprise both firms that are specifically focused on OPV materials (e.g., Plextronics) and those that focus on the panels area, but have strong IP in the materials space (e.g., Konarka.) We also provide a roadmap for improvements in OPV lifetimes, materials prices, efficiencies and other factors.

This report focuses on developments at the materials level that are impacting the commercialization of OPV and will be invaluable to strategic planners and marketing managers at materials firms of all kinds, electronics companies, display and lighting firms and, of course, the developers of OPV technology itself.

Item Number: Nano-087 / Expected: 2009/Q1;
Pricing:  Advanced Version (≤5 users): $2,795; Group Version (≤10 users): $3,495; Enterprise Version (company wide): $3,995

Table of Contents

Executive Summary
E.1 Introduction
E.2 Summary of Emerging Opportunities for Materials Suppliers
E.3 Implications for Equipment Makers
E.4 Implications for OPV Panel Manufacturers
E.5 Key Firms Shaping the OPV Materials Market
E.6 Summary of Eight-Year Forecast of OLED Materials

Chapter One: Introduction
1.1 Background to This Report
1.2 Goal and Scope of This Report
1.3 Methodology and Information Sources for this Report
1.4 Plan of This Report

Chapter Two: OPV Technology and Materials
2.1 Introduction: Dye Sensitized Cells and “Pure” OPV
2.2 Evolution of Cell Architectures and Impact on Materials
2.2.1 Bulk Heterojunctions (BHJs)
2.2.2 Tandem Cells
2.2.3 Architectures for Dye Sensitized Cells
2.3 Electron Donor/Electron Acceptor Layer Materials
2.3.1 Polymers
2.3.2 Small Molecules
2.3.3 Organic Dyes
2.3.4 Inorganic Oxides and Other Materials for Dye Sensitive Cells
2.3.5 Fullerenes, Carbon Nanotubes and Other Nanomaterials
2.3.6 OPV “Inks”
2.4 Contact Materials
2.4.2 Metals and Metal Oxides
2.4.1 Transparent conductors
2.4.3 Other Materials
2.5 Materials for Encapsulation and Barrier Coatings
2.6 Substrates
2.6.2 Plastic
2.6.3 Foil
2.6.1 Textiles
2.6.2 A Note on Substrates for BIPV
2.7 Other Materials
2.8 Environmental and Health/Safety Issues
2.8 Key Points Made in this Chapter

Chapter Three: Applications and Forecasts
3.1 Analysis of Basic Demand for OPV
3.1.1 BIPV
3.1.2 Consumer Electronics
3.1.3 Power Plants and Other Potential Applications
3.2 Forecasting Methodology
3.2.1 How Much Confidence Should You Have in These Forecasts?
3.3 Eight-year Forecast of OPV Materials by Function
3.3.1 “Pure” OPV
3.3.2 Dye Sensitized Cells
3.4 Eight-year Forecast of Dye Sensitized Cell Materials by Function
3.4.1 “Pure” OPV
3.4.2 Dye Sensitized Cells
3.5 Summary of Eight-Year Forecasts of OPV Materials
3.6 Key Points Made in this Chapter

Chapter Four: Supplier and Research Institute Profiles
4.1 Air Products
4.2 AIST
4.3 DuPont Teijin Films
4.4 Heliatek/BASF
4.5 Dyesol
4.6 Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne
4.7 EMD/Merck
4.8 Fraunhofer-ISE
4.9 Global Photonic Energy
4.10 HC Starck
4.11 Isovolta Group
4.12 Konarka
4.13 Mitsubishi Chemical
4.14 NREL
4.15 Peccell
4.16 Plextronics
4.17 Sharp
4.18 Solarmer Energy
4.19 Vitex Systems

Chapter One: Introduction
1.1 Background to This Report
Until recently, almost all commercially produced solar cells relied on crystalline silicon (c-Si) technology. This technology has been able to deliver adequate conversion efficiency at acceptable costs, which make them suitable for a wide range of applications, such as providing electricity in remote locations that are not served by the electrical power grid. Crystalline silicon does not produce electricity at costs comparable with other electrical power generation sources, however, so it is not yet a competitive solution.

While the c-Si technology has a long head start over novel approaches, organic photovoltaics (OPV) and dye-sensitized solar cells (DSC) have the potential to overtake the established solar cell solutions. These new technologies hold out the promise of significantly lower material costs due to the thin film structures that can be fabricated on inexpensive substrates, as well as lower manufacturing costs because these designs can be adapted for high-speed roll-to-roll (R2R) production. New materials also open the possibility of new installations for photovoltaic devices. They can be incorporated in building materials ranging from roofing materials to transparent cells for windows that make electricity from infrared radiation.
1.1.1 Efficiency Alone Is Not Enough
In discussing any photovoltaic technology, it is tempting to be distracted by the question of device efficiency. Certainly, millions of dollars are spent each year on trying to improve the efficiency of solar cells, and this clearly is a critical factor. But its only half the story.

A cell that is ten times as efficient as competing designs is of interest, but if it cost 1,000 times as much to make, it cannot be competitive. On the other hand, if a cell that was only one-tenth as efficient as the average cell cost only one-hundredth as much to produce, it would be an instant winner.

Now, there are certainly limits; at some point, the size of a highly-inefficient solar cell would become so large that it might become impractical for some applications, or its installation costs might increase to the point that its other cost savings are wiped out.

So while it is important to consider solar cell efficiencies in terms of how much sunlight power is converted to electricity, the ultimate question is how much will that electricity cost over the useful life of the solar cell. If the cost is low enough, then the photovoltaics can compete successfully with other forms of electrical generation, including fossil fuel.

Another important consideration about OPV and DSC module efficiencies is that they continue to perform well in low levels of light. Unlike c-Si modules that need direct sunlight to be effective, these other materials can produce significant amounts of electricity from lower level light sources, including from surfaces that do not face the sun directly, or in cloudy conditions.