ASCA increases output of organic solar cells with new semiconductors

11/04/2021 | Print view

Thanks to materials supplied by Raynergy Tek, ASCA was able to increase the efficiency of its semi-transparent free-form solar modules to around 70 watts per square metre. - © ASCA — © ASCA

Thanks to materials supplied by Raynergy Tek, ASCA was able to increase the efficiency of its semi-transparent free-form solar modules to around 70 watts per square metre.

ASCA has increased the efficiency of its modules by 40 per cent with new semiconductor materials. The components are supplied by the Taiwanese company Raynergy Tek.

Raynergy Tek has specialised in the development of organic semiconductor materials for OPV modules, for example non-fullerene acceptors (NFAs). With an efficiency record of around 20 per cent in laboratory cells, they promise significantly higher performance than conventional acceptors in the future. ASCA has now succeeded in integrating NFA-based materials into its prefabrication for the first time. With the help of the materials supplied by Raynergy Tek, the company was able to increase the efficiency of its semi-transparent free-form solar modules to around 70 watts per square metre.

"We have now been able to confirm our laboratory results in industrial production tests" explains Dr Sebastian Meier, Vice President Corporate Development and Partner Management at ASCA. The company is now working to complete the material launch so that OPV modules with the new materials will be available by the end of 2022 at the latest. "With the class of NFAs, we are opening up the possibility of making significant progress in efficiency values in the medium term as well," adds Meier.

ASCA had already scored a success by the end of 2020: Under low-light conditions, the OPV cells with semiconductor materials from Raynergy Tek achieved a record efficiency of 26 per cent. Initial results show that the material now being introduced also achieves similar values under low light.

ASCA and Raynergy Tek intensify cooperation

ASCA and Raynergy Tek have been working closely together since 2014. To strengthen their joint development work, the companies have now entered into a partnership agreement. "We are pleased to intensify the cooperation with our partner ASCA. Together, we have the necessary expertise to further advance the development of high-performance OPV modules," says Dr Phoebe Tan, Managing Director of Raynergy Tek. The new material system is a first joint step into the world of NFA materials, with more to come. (mfo)

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