Organic photovoltaics (OPVs) are an emerging technology for providing renewable energy. However, translation from lab scale to low cost roll-to-roll manufacturing of OPVs on a commercial scale requires significant research. This presentation will highlight work to overcome challenges such as the use of non-halogenated solvents for reduced toxicity formulations, all-solution processed OPVs, and reduced processing temperatures for compatibility with flexible plastic substrates in roll-to-roll coating. The use of ZnO nanoparticle electron transport layers will be discussed as a method for generating uniform films with sufficiently low work functions (< 3.7eV) for generating high performing OPVs using low temperatures that do not deform plastic substrates and enable roll-to-roll coating. Combining these advances, pilot scale OPV modules were fabricated, reaching 6.3% power conversion efficiency.
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