During the Long Night of Sciences, we glimpse into the future-focused themes that current scientific research offers, such as the FAU Erlangen-Nürnberg’s project on printed solar modules. From left to right: Prof. Dr. Niels Oberbeck (President of the Nuremberg Institute of Technology Georg Simon Ohm), Prof. Dr. Joachim Hornegger (President of Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg), Dr. Ian Marius Peters (Helmholtz Institute Erlangen-Nürnberg (HI ERN)), Nadine Ballenberger (Managing Director of Kulturidee GmbH), and Prof. Dr. Tim Hosenfeldt (Director of Innovation & Central Technology at Schaeffler AG).
In the quest for the perfect material, FAU researchers are harnessing the power of artificial intelligence to reshape the photovoltaic market. Solar energy stands as a cornerstone of the energy transition, but the currently predominant material, silicon, comes with significant limitations: it’s rigid, heavy, and challenging to recycle. Researchers led by Christoph Brabec, Professor of Materials for Electronics and Energy Technology at FAU and Director at the Helmholtz Institute Erlangen-Nürnberg (HI ERN), are taking a different approach. They aim to revolutionize the market with a new generation of organic photovoltaics. To find the ideal material composition, they are utilizing artificial intelligence to evaluate millions of variations in a short period, essentially through an automated trial-and-error process.
However, performance isn’t the only factor in play – researchers are equally concerned with the ecological footprint of PV modules. Christoph Brabec notes, “We can potentially print organic semiconductors directly onto thin substrates, simplifying production and significantly reducing energy consumption. Organic PV modules can be flexible and transparent, making them suitable for integration into windows and facades, indoor use, or as coverings over fields where plants can grow.”
The quest for the perfect semiconductor material is ongoing, and researchers have recently identified an “Oligomer” as a strong candidate for organic PV, combining both efficiency and durability.
Successes in this endeavor require meticulous atomic structure tuning. It’s not a straightforward process, with trial and error being the norm. Researchers at HI ERN aim to automate these experiments. Christoph Brabec explains, “We want to map all processes, from material selection to test cycles, using a kind of digital twin. Through AI-assisted development, we hope to eliminate many repetitive steps and accelerate breakthroughs in this crucial technology.”
Performance and longevity aren’t the only criteria for an ideal solar module. Ian Marius Peters, Research Group Leader at HI ERN, emphasizes the importance of a low ecological footprint throughout all individual components and across the module’s entire lifecycle. This starts with the choice of the semiconductor layer, as a photoactive polymer that can be produced in a few synthesis steps may be preferable to a material that requires more labor and energy in the production process for a mere two percent performance gain. Furthermore, it’s vital for researchers that these polymers can be processed without toxic or environmentally harmful solvents. Cheaper and more environmentally friendly synthesis processes, such as deposition from aqueous solutions and inkjet printing, are a central focus of research at HI ERN.
The Cradle-to-Cradle approach Peters is pursuing also involves contemplating what happens to the products after their lifecycle ends. Silicon modules, although longer-lasting, are hardly recyclable and typically end up in landfills or are partially recycled through shredding. The solution may lie in a multi-layer design that allows for easy separation and recycling of various materials or in the consistent production of the entire module using organic materials that are ideally compostable. Peters notes, “A module doesn’t need to last 100 years if the technology becomes outdated after 20 years.” For his research, Peters was awarded a 2023 ERC Consolidator Grant worth two million euros.
https://nacht-der-wissenschaften.de/presse/pressemappe
During the Long Night of Sciences, we glimpse into the future-focused themes that current scientific research offers, such as the FAU Erlangen-Nürnberg’s project on printed solar modules. From left to right: Prof. Dr. Niels Oberbeck (President of the Nuremberg Institute of Technology Georg Simon Ohm), Prof. Dr. Joachim Hornegger (President of Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg), Dr. Ian Marius Peters (Helmholtz Institute Erlangen-Nürnberg (HI ERN)), Nadine Ballenberger (Managing Director of Kulturidee GmbH), and Prof. Dr. Tim Hosenfeldt (Director of Innovation & Central Technology at Schaeffler AG).
In the quest for the perfect material, FAU researchers are harnessing the power of artificial intelligence to reshape the photovoltaic market. Solar energy stands as a cornerstone of the energy transition, but the currently predominant material, silicon, comes with significant limitations: it’s rigid, heavy, and challenging to recycle. Researchers led by Christoph Brabec, Professor of Materials for Electronics and Energy Technology at FAU and Director at the Helmholtz Institute Erlangen-Nürnberg (HI ERN), are taking a different approach. They aim to revolutionize the market with a new generation of organic photovoltaics. To find the ideal material composition, they are utilizing artificial intelligence to evaluate millions of variations in a short period, essentially through an automated trial-and-error process.
However, performance isn’t the only factor in play – researchers are equally concerned with the ecological footprint of PV modules. Christoph Brabec notes, “We can potentially print organic semiconductors directly onto thin substrates, simplifying production and significantly reducing energy consumption. Organic PV modules can be flexible and transparent, making them suitable for integration into windows and facades, indoor use, or as coverings over fields where plants can grow.”
The quest for the perfect semiconductor material is ongoing, and researchers have recently identified an “Oligomer” as a strong candidate for organic PV, combining both efficiency and durability.
Successes in this endeavor require meticulous atomic structure tuning. It’s not a straightforward process, with trial and error being the norm. Researchers at HI ERN aim to automate these experiments. Christoph Brabec explains, “We want to map all processes, from material selection to test cycles, using a kind of digital twin. Through AI-assisted development, we hope to eliminate many repetitive steps and accelerate breakthroughs in this crucial technology.”
Performance and longevity aren’t the only criteria for an ideal solar module. Ian Marius Peters, Research Group Leader at HI ERN, emphasizes the importance of a low ecological footprint throughout all individual components and across the module’s entire lifecycle. This starts with the choice of the semiconductor layer, as a photoactive polymer that can be produced in a few synthesis steps may be preferable to a material that requires more labor and energy in the production process for a mere two percent performance gain. Furthermore, it’s vital for researchers that these polymers can be processed without toxic or environmentally harmful solvents. Cheaper and more environmentally friendly synthesis processes, such as deposition from aqueous solutions and inkjet printing, are a central focus of research at HI ERN.
The Cradle-to-Cradle approach Peters is pursuing also involves contemplating what happens to the products after their lifecycle ends. Silicon modules, although longer-lasting, are hardly recyclable and typically end up in landfills or are partially recycled through shredding. The solution may lie in a multi-layer design that allows for easy separation and recycling of various materials or in the consistent production of the entire module using organic materials that are ideally compostable. Peters notes, “A module doesn’t need to last 100 years if the technology becomes outdated after 20 years.” For his research, Peters was awarded a 2023 ERC Consolidator Grant worth two million euros.
https://nacht-der-wissenschaften.de/presse/pressemappe