Printed and flexible photovoltaics from aqueous solutions with integrated power electronics for energy harvesting

摘要：非技术本工作旨在打印与电力电子器件集成的柔性太阳能组件。电力电子设备确保即使照明条件发生变化，也能从太阳能模块获得最大的功率。与平版印刷工艺相比，从溶液中印刷电子产品是一种可提供成本、能源和材料节约的增材工艺。对于电力电子器件，印刷无源元件的电感、电容器和电阻器将与硅芯片集成，以确保在灵活的外形因素下实现最大性能。预期的太阳能组件将使用水性油墨印刷，消除印刷有机电子产品中使用的典型有机溶剂带来的健康和环境风险。这个项目有可能采取必要的步骤，使有机电子领域，特别是有机光伏，从单一的理想设备发展到低成本的成熟技术。柔性和可穿戴电子等新兴领域需要可靠的电源制造工艺，这项工作将影响柔性电源收集系统及其与负载设备的集成。拟议的活动正在解决有机电子学的最大挑战之一：为特定应用可靠地制造柔性集成器件。技术：为了完成这样一个低成本的环保能源收集系统，本工作将重点完成三个任务。第一个任务是为综合电源系统的组件配制油墨。太阳能组件中用于活性层的水性油墨将由使用微乳液方法制造的纳米颗粒组成。这项工作将描述制造过程中的变量，使用尺寸，吸收和电气测量的组合来确定为光伏性能提供理想形态的材料组成。选择具有不同官能团的聚合物，以确定已知影响聚合物溶解度和表面能的官能团如何影响纳米颗粒的大小和在水中的稳定性。油墨配方也将用于电力电子元件，如电容器。目标是在保持制造重现性的同时实现高比电容。第二个任务是开发用水性油墨和电力电子元件制造聚合物太阳能电池的印刷方法。刀片涂层和丝网印刷将分别用于聚合物太阳能电池和电力电子产品。将开发、研究和表征用于最大功率点跟踪的印刷无源元件，从而使太阳能电池能够在各种辐照度下有效地工作。第三项任务是将有机太阳能电池模块与电力电子器件集成。通过打印串联太阳能电池设计和制造单片集成太阳能组件，并在实际条件下对太阳能组件和最大功率点跟踪电路的性能进行表征。目标是设计一个光伏能量收集系统，该系统将在室内和室外光强度下都能以最高效率运行，除了便携式和可穿戴设备外，还将用于跨越一系列传感器的负载。除了这些任务之外，该项目还将利用环保方法来解决在制造过程中使用有机溶剂所带来的挑战。对于推广计划，计划开发供中学生使用的科学模块。该项目将涉及两个REU项目，其中一个旨在让社区大学生参与拟议的研究。

Abstract:Non-TechnicalThis work aims to print flexible solar modules integrated with power electronics. Power electronics ensure that the maximum power is drawn from the solar module even if lighting conditions change. Printing electronics from solution is an additive process that could offer cost, energy and materials savings when compared to lithographic processes. For the power electronics, printed passive components'inductors, capacitors, and resistors will be integrated with silicon chips to ensure maximum performance in a flexible form factor. The intended solar modules will be printed from water-based inks eliminating the health and environment risks posed by typical organic solvents used in printed organic electronics. This project has the potential to take the necessary steps for the field of organic electronics, specifically organic photovoltaics, to evolve from single idealized devices to a low-cost mature technology. Emerging fields such as flexible and wearable electronics require a reliable manufacturing process for power supply and this work will impact flexible power harvesting systems and their integration with a load device. The proposed activities are addressing one of the biggest challenges of organic electronics: reliable manufacturing of flexible integrated devices for a specific application. Technical:In order to accomplish such a low-cost environmentally friendly energy harvesting system, this work will focus on three tasks. The first task is ink formulation for the components of the integrated power system. The aqueous inks for the active layer in the solar module will consist of nanoparticles fabricated using a mini-emulsion method. The work will characterize the variables in the fabrication process, using a combination of size, absorption, and electrical measurements to determine the compositions of materials that provide ideal morphology for photovoltaic performance. Polymers with different functional groups have been selected to determine how functional groups, which are known to affect a polymer's solubility and surface energy, also affect nanoparticle size and stability in water. Ink formulation will also take place for power electronic components, such as capacitors. The goal is to achieve high specific capacitance while maintaining fabrication reproducibility. The second task is to develop printing methods for polymer solar cells from aqueous inks and power electronic components. Blade coating and screen printing will be used for polymer solar cells and power electronics, respectively. Printed passive components will be developed, studied and characterized for maximum power point tracking, so that the solar cells may be operated efficiently in various irradiances. The third task is to integrate the organic solar cell modules with power electronics. Monolithically integrated solar modules will be designed and fabricated by printing series-connected solar cells, and the performance of the solar modules and maximum power point tracking circuit will be characterized under realistic practical conditions. The goal is to design a photovoltaic energy harvesting system that will perform at its maximum efficiency at both indoor and outdoor light intensities, with the intent of use with loads spanning a range of sensors, in addition to portable and wearable devices. In addition to these tasks, the project will utilize environmentally friendly methods to address the challenge presented by the use of organic solvents in a manufacturing process. For the outreach program it is planned to develop science modules for use with middle school students. The project will involve two REU programs, with one designed to involve community college students in the proposed research.