Powering the future with printed electronics

Printed Electronics, which was talked about in year 2000, has come into use now after a lot of research in the field. S Sri Vishnu, Development Manager in OPVIUS GmbH in Germany was in city visiting his father V Subramanian, Director of Sudarsan Graphics, renowned offset press in Chennai. As Sri Vishnu has put into use the Printed Electronics through Organic Photovoltaics (OPV), the Printing Technologists Forum arranged his lecture on the subject.

Due to increasing urbanization as per UN Reports, alternate energy becomes crucial for mega cities. OPVIUS GmbH is the only company in Germany who are producing OPV and putting it in use.

OPV (Organic Photovoltaics) as a modern photovoltaic generating technology is helping in power generation. It is organic because of its material composition consisting of hydrocarbon as opposed to silicon in the traditional solar cells. By using organic hydrocarbons, the materials can be formulated as inks and therefore allow deposition methods such as printing or coating. This allows a roll-to-roll manufacturing method much similar to newsprint. OPV modules can be made thin and flexible like any other graphic printed object. Additionally, OPV modules offer a semi-transparent appearance that adds aesthetic value to any system they are integrated into.

OPV applications

Due to its flexibility, OPV can be customized to any design and shape. The OPV technology offers an easy disconnection and relocation as per customer requirement. Self-adhering OPV modules on membrane structure based on Ethylene tetra fluoroethylene (ETEE) material and OPV lamination on flexible membranes has found its use too. OPV Composite Systems provide synergy to an existing space by adding power generation compound to it. Besides building, integration OPV can also be made part of automobiles and consumer objects.

OPV Production

The OPV production is carried out inside a controlled atmosphere. The temperature, humidity and particles in air are constantly monitored to ensure quality in products. The functional layers of OPV are as thin as 1 micron and are highly sensitive to atmospheric conditions such as oxygen, UV, dust particles, etc. It is carried out under yellow diffused light to filter the UV component from standard household lighting.

Once the design is implanted, the functional layers are carried out and deposited. This disposition is carried out by slot die coating. OPV module production is depositing a conductive metal layer. This process is carried out by screen printing. A patented ink with suspended metal particles is engineered for screen printing process. A screen suitable for each design is prepared and printing is carried out with registration. Upon drying, the solvents from the ink are evaporated and the resultant layer acts as a conductor that capable of transporting the current generated. This way, the other possibility of printing technology is found.

–D Ramalingam