November 2019 – April 2023
Project FET-OPEN
Advanced drop-on-demand inkjet technology based on lead-free perovskites
Context
Inkjet printing holds great promise and potential for cost reductions in the photovoltaics, lighting and optoelectronics. The EU-funded DROP-IT project will leverage the potential of lead-free perovskites for inkjet printing. Project work will be geared towards developing low-cost, high-throughput fabrication techniques of LFP materials. DROP-IT’s novelty relies on the combined use of newly synthesised LFPs and affordable, mask-less, drop-on-demand inkjet printing onto flexible substrates. The project targets the development of the following proof-of-concept printed devices: solar with energy conversion efficiency ranging between 12 % and 15 %; printed LEDs with energy conversion efficiency values between 14 % and 18 %; and laser amplifiers.
Objectives
DROP-IT proposes combining optoelectronics and photonics in a single flexible drop-on demand inkjet technology platform by means of exploiting the enormous potential of lead-free perovskite (LFP) materials. Specifically, novel crystalline structures beyond conventional ABX3 LFP (double-perovskites and rudorffites) will be computationally screened and chemically synthesized with superior properties as LFPs proposed in the literature. A(Sn-Ge)X3 (A=organic,Cs; X=Cl,Br,I) materials will be considered for initial benchmark devices. The future of DROP-IT technology is envisioned at long-term in the fields of photovoltaics, lighting and printed integrated photonics. This will be possible by developing highly innovative fabrication routes (inkjet printing towards Roll-to-Roll) of LFP pioneering materials (in bulk and nanoscale) by low-cost, high throughput, sustainable, large-scale fabrication techniques on flexible substrates (PET, f.e.) to revolutionize future power, lighting and communication systems. DROP-IT major novelty relies on the innovative use of newly synthesized LFPs in combination with the use of affordable, mask-less, drop on demand inkjet printing onto flexible substrates. The targeted breakthroughs towards the long-term vision of our technology will be based on the following challenges: (1) Theoretical screening of different LFP compound families and chemical synthesis of most suitable ones in the form of nanocrystals and polycrystalline thin films, (2) Formulation of specific and suitable inks of these materials for (3) Inkjet printing of thin films on flexible substrates and (4) Development of stable optoelectronic and photonic devices (solar cells with 12-15% and LEDs with 14-18% efficiencies, amplifiers-lasers with low threshold) as proofs-of-concept for a future technology based on new inorganic LFPs and charge transport layers. DROP-IT is supported by a strong and interdisciplinary consortium with complementary expertise to achieve these objectives.
Partners
UNIVERSITAT DE VALENCIA – UNIVERSITAT DE BARCELONA – UNIVERSITAT JAUME I DE CASTELLON – ETH Zurich – Foton OHM – Saule Research Institute – Saule Technologies – Avantama
Coordinator
UNIVERSITAT DE VALENCIA
Laurent PEDESSEAU (Foton-OHM)
Fundings
EU (3.461 M€, FOTON: 388 k€)
See on line
