Summary:

The University of Louisville has won a $1 million grant for researching the manufacture of thin film solar panels using a roll-to-roll platform, the same used to print newspapers. 

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Main Article:

University of Louisville researchers are reimagining the newspaper printing press to significantly reduce the cost of solar energy. 

UofL announced today that it has won a $1 million award from the U.S. Department of Energy Solar Energy Technologies Office (SETO) to advance photovoltaics (PV) research and development at the Conn Center for Renewable Energy Research. The project focuses on thin film solar cell production using a roll-to-roll platform, the same used to print newspapers.

Conn Center researchers have recently developed an extremely rapid processing technique to produce commercially relevant perovskite solar cells, which are made with simple chemistries to harvest light energy. This work was published in the Journal of Materials Chemistry A.

“This technology roll can revitalize a declining printing industry and boost a growing solar industry,” says Thad Druffel, who is leading the research at the Conn Center. “Our process will utilize centuries-old tools for a new market. The goal is to drastically reduce the cost of manufacturing.” 

Also on the team are Craig Grapperhaus, chemistry professor, and Delaina Amos, associate chemical engineering professor.

“Great progress is being made by Conn Center researchers on meeting energy demands through scientific and engineering innovation,” said Neeli Bendapudi, president of UofL. “This is a shining example of how UofL is addressing the most important needs of our society.”