Dye solar cell module developed at CHOSE

Dye Solar Cell panels step up to the challenge

University of Rome Tor Vergata

Recently the European Community has defined a Renewable Energy Road Map leading to the year 2020. Photovoltaics (PV) will play a fundamental role with an annual growth rate targeted at around 30%. The European Photovoltaic Industry Association has defined a range of strategic actions in order to reach the goals of 2020 and beyond.

Besides continuing to optimise conventional technology, the development of novel materials and devices is of fundamental importance in achieving these goals. Among the new concepts, emphasis is given to organic cells and Dye Solar Cells (DSC), in which the active light-absorbing media are not conventional inorganic semiconductors, but carbon-based organic molecules.

The Centre for Hybrid and Organic Solar Energy (CHOSE) was created at the end of 2006 from the mutual agendas of the Assessorato all’Ambiente (Department of Enviroment) of the Lazio Region and the Department of Electronic Engineering of the University of Rome (Tor Vergata). The goal was to build a centre of excellence for research and development in these new PV technologies. This is part of a larger strategy within the Lazio Region of Italy in which other centres (Centres on Sustainable Mobility and on Hydrogen) have been funded to promote research and development (R&D) in applied research and technology with industrial potential in the green energy sector. CHOSE has set up state-of-the-art laboratories in the high-tech urban campus of the TecnoPolo Tiburtino.

Building integrated PV

The basic architecture of these cells is remarkably simple: they contain one or more layers of thin photoactive films, including at least a molecular absorber, sandwiched between transparent substrates, generally conductive glass sheets but also flexible foils. The electronic properties of the light-absorbing materials can be tailored via chemical synthesis of a variety of molecular designs. DSC technology utilises light-sensitive organic pigments and nanotechnology to generate electricity.

These cells promise a cost reduction by reducing materials costs (purity levels are not as stringent as more conventional crystalline technologies), using less per square metre, and also by utilising coating techniques that permit deposition of photovoltaic cells over large areas. One of the biggest appeals of these technologies is that they can be deposited in the form of liquid solutions or pastes employing low-cost, low-temperature casting techniques such as those from the printing industry.

CHOSE has not only built a national network by joining many of the institutions researching DSC in Italy, but has also recently promoted some university spin-offs which are very active in this field. Last July, together with the Universities of Ferrara and Turin, CHOSE set up a consortium with ERG Renew, Permasteelisa, and Dyesol Italia as industrial partners. The aim is to develop processes for the fabrication of photovoltaic glass facades, to be readily transferable for industrial exploitation.

The new dye solar panels will use simple production processes which utilise less energy and have a reduced environmental impact leading to lower costs. In addition, the technology is very versatile for Building Integrated Photovoltaics as performance is less sensitive to the angle of solar radiation, which allows panels to be installed on vertical walls (for example glass buildings and skyscrapers) or in places with indirect sunlight. Furthermore, cells can be made to be translucent and may potentially utilise different colours, thus improving on architectural integration flexibility.

PV education and training

CHOSE, in collaboration with the association FREEnergy, runs a second level Masters in Photovoltaic Engineering (www.masterpv.org) at the university. The aim of this course is to answer the needs of the public, private, industrial, R&D and commercial sectors, by educating and preparing professionals to operate on the whole range of photovoltaic technologies, ranging from the physical operating principles, analysis, study, design, management and maintenance of photovoltaic systems. Moreover, an educational activity at primary and secondary school levels has been initiated where students are able to build their own dye solar cell in the classroom in order to diffuse the green energy culture among the young generations.

Centre for Hybrid and Organic Solar Energy, CHOSE
University of Rome Tor Vergata
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