Tallinn University of Technology, Estonia
By Prof. Dieter Meissner, Tallinn University of Technology, Estonia.
Crystalsol, a spin-out company of Tallinn University of Technology, has developed a technology to fully print photovoltaic modules based on single-crystalline Kesterite powders, unique since combining the advantages of highest quality single crystalline materials such as best possible efficiency and stability with low cost high speed printing
techniques. Completely avoiding high vacuum production steps in module production allows for very low investment costs even for small-scale production. Flexibility, stability even without encapsulation, customisability, transparency if needed and the possibility to adjust form, size and design make it especially suitable also for building integration.
Besides an overview of powder-based photovoltaics the talk will discuss the status of Material as well as process development including the use of Cd-free buffer layers and the printing of TCO front contacts.