OSA-Direct
Tuesday, 11 Dec 2018

Heliatek announces new world record for an organic photovoltaic cell of 13.2%

The newly developed cells corresponds to the output of conventional solar cells with 16% to 17% efficiency when both are operated under real world conditions

8 Feb 2016 | Editor

Heliatek have announced their R&D teams have achieved a record conversion efficiency of 13.2% for an OPV multi-junction cell, setting a new world record for the direct conversion of sunlight into electricity using organic photovoltaic cells. The measurement was independently confirmed by Fraunhofer CSP.

The Heliatek world-record cell is a multi-junction cell combining three different absorbers. Each absorber is dedicated to efficiently convert green-, red- or near-infrared light of the wavelength range between 450 and 950 nm into electricity. These absorber molecules have been developed and are patented by Heliatek.

Over the past decade Heliatek has demonstrated that by continuously technology development of the company's unique technology approach of using vacuum deposition of small molecules on plastic films it has been possible to raise power conversion from 3% to more than 13%. It also supports its roadmap towards 15% efficient organic solar cells.

Heliatek said that the excellent low light and high temperature behaviour of the organic semiconductor, the electricity generation of the newly developed cells corresponds to the output of conventional solar cells with 16 to 17% efficiency when both are under real world conditions.

The new record efficiency was measured at simulated AM 1.5 illumination and was confirmed by the Fraunhofer - Center for Silizium-Photovoltaik - CSP in Halle, a recognized center for independent verification of solar cell performance results under standard testing conditions.

Dr. Martin Pfeiffer, CTO of Heliatek, said, "We are very proud of this new world record. This success is based on our chemical research for new organic absorber materials. Key to this success is the close cooperation of our physics and chemistry R&D teams, which leads to an optimal combination of the properties of this new solar cell design."
Thibaud Le Séguillon, CEO of Heliatek, said, "I am delighted by this latest result," adds Thibaud Le Séguillon, CEO of Heliatek. "It validates our choice to internalize our R&D, both by developing new absorber molecules and optimizing the device architecture. This will provide the baseline for efficiency in our large-volume manufacturing line. With our HeliaFilm®, we are clearly executing our strategy to provide de-carbonized, de-centralized energy generation directly on buildings all over the world."

   


About Heliatek

Heliatek spun off in 2006 from the Technical University of Dresden and the University of Ulm. Through both its leading edge material development and its proven capability for volume manufacturing, Heliatek is the first company to begin commercialization of large area OPV solar film. Its business model is to supply the custom-designed HeliaFilm® to partners in industries such as building and construction materials, automotive and light architectural structures. Heliatek maintains a total staff of some 80 specialists at its facilities in Dresden and Ulm, Germany.

Investors in Heliatek include leading industrial and financial companies such as BASF, Innogy Venture Capital, Wellington Partners, eCapital and Aqton SE. Research and development work, as well as the installation of production technology, has been funded by the Free State of Saxony, the Federal Republic of Germany (BMBF-Projekt LOTsE (03EK3505E)) and the European Union.

Source: Heliatek