Scalable, low-cost organic photovoltaic devices

Project SCALLOPS (SCALable LOw-cost Organic Photovoltaics) aims to develop an organic photovoltaic device compatible with large-scale manufacturing processes. Each of the major components of the device is being developed with cost, scalability and sustainability in mind. An indium-free transparent electrode is being developed that entails modifying commercially available tin oxide based transparent conducting oxide substrates. Routes to the large-scale tin-free synthesis of the photoconductive polymers are being developed and the scalable processing of the polymers is being investigated. These components are then combined to assess their performance in devices. In addition to the component development more fundamental work is being undertaken to understand the photophysics of the devices and advanced characterisation techniques are being used to determine the properties of the components and devices.