Efficient reverse design of green solvents for emerging solution-processed photovoltaic technologies

• Applicants: Professor Dr. Harald Hillebrecht (†); Dr. Uli Würfel
• Subject Area: Experimental Condensed Matter Physics ; Inorganic Molecular Chemistry - Synthesis and Characterisation
• Term: since 2021
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 490951566

Within the context of a fast growing demand of renewable electrical energy, GreenPHOTOSOLV project deals with current development challenges of printed photovoltaic technologies through the novel application of a systemic approach based on reverse engineering. The project addresses two major issues in solution-processed photovoltaic technologies, namely the limited understanding of the role of solvents on the device performance and the need to reduce the significant impact of solvents on human health and the environment. Organic and perovskite photovoltaics have the potential to be fabricated in large scale with low production costs, but the transition progress is slowed by the unfavorable indicators of the current used mostly toxic solvents. However, the selection of solvents with reduced environmental, health and safety impact is currently done empirically, based mainly on accumulated experimental knowledge, with limited effectiveness. The current incomplete understanding of solvent/absorber material interactions is partly responsible for this limitation. Therefore, by implementing a proficient computer assisted molecular design method based on a better understanding of the effect of the solvent on the processing of the absorber layer using organic and perovskite absorber materials, the project will allow a more rational and efficient design of green bio-sourced substitution solvents and will contribute to the generation of renewable electrical energy in a more environmentally friendly and cost-efficient way. Within the project, experimental methods and processes will be optimized in the course of the all fabrication steps (chemical synthesis of absorber materials, thin-film deposition and device assembling) and combined with predictive properties models to produce new fundamental and exploratory knowledge. To achieve this purpose, the proposed consortium brings together complementary competences that cover the project needs in chemistry, chemical engineering, material sciences and device physics. Overall, the results of the project are intended to provide new concepts breaking with existing paradigms and to help in the future energy transitions with improved solution-based solar cells.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants
• International Connection: France
• Cooperation Partners: Professor Dr. Vincent Gerbaud; Professor Dr. Thomas Heiser; Professorin Dr. Ivonne Rodriguez-Donis