Polymers for lightweight and environmentally stable flexible solar cells****

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We will develop and integrate polymer semiconductors for lightweight, flexible, and stable polymer solar cells. The key distinction of the materials, nanocomposites, and devices from existing technologies is that they will be stable, which will enable long-term functioning of polymer solar cells, and processable with green solvents, which is critical for the eventual commercialization of polymer solar cells. The proposed research fits into the NSERC SPG target area Advanced Manufacturing and the research topic Lightweight product design, assembly and use. Polymer solar cells have emerged as a promising technology alternative to the existing silicon solar cells due to their light weight, mechanical robustness, and potential low cost. Polymer solar cells are particularly suitable for energy efficiency housing (e.g., rooftop solar panels, windows and skylights) and emerging applications such as self-powered wearable electronics, sensors for the Internet of Things, personal healthcare and medical devices, which are expected to grow rapidly over the next 5-10 years.**Recent progresses made in the Li and Aziz groups at the University of Waterloo as well as their collaborative efforts have laid the foundation for the proposed research. In this research Li and Aziz will team up to develop lightweight, flexible, and stable polymer solar cells based on novel polymer semiconductors and hole transporting layer and electron transporting layer materials. Advances will be made in both science and engineering, which include the development of new polymers for polymer solar cells, the development of new materials processing procedures, the development of new devices, and the demonstration of stable and high efficiency solar cell devices.**In this project we will partner with 1-Material, a world-leading manufacturer of organic semiconductor materials for polymer solar cells, and Canadian General-Tower (CGT), a world leader in coated polymeric films for industrial applications, to develop novel lightweight, flexible, and stable polymer solar cells. 1-Material and CGT have the research and manufacturing capability to support the research and adopt the technologies developed in the proposed research for the novel polymers and solar cell products, respectively.****