Continued from the previous part
All-print manufacturing would mean using printing technology in almost every manufacturing process. It could deliver the largest benefits in applications such as solar cells, organic light-emitting diode (OLED) lighting and displays. Solar cells are taking the lead in commercialization, with OLED lighting and displays close behind.
Organic solar cells consist of only the electrodes and the power-generating layer, without any need for complex drive devices such as thin-film transistors (TFT). As a result, printing technology can be used for almost every manufacturing step except a few packaging processes. European business ventures based on this are already preparing for commercialization.
G24 Innovations Ltd. of the UK, which is working in dye-sensitized organic solar cells, began volume shipment of modules in April 2009. "The cells have already been adopted for use in e-book reader chargers, chargers for mobile phones in Africa and India, and other products," according to Shozo Yanagida,Emeritus & Guest Professor (KESR), Center for Advanced Science and Innovation of Osaka University. Yanagida serves on the G24 Innovations' advisory board.
Konarka Technologies, Inc. of the US has also begun volume manufacture of solar cells using organic thin-films, claiming multiple applications such as mounting on bags, tents, and umbrellas, or in handset chargers. John Gui, Vice President, Business Development, Asia at the firm reveals they already provided US President Barack Obama with one mounted on a bag.
While there are still problems such as conversion efficiency, service life, and cost, Gui stresses that the style has earned high marks. Organic solar cells combine characteristics such as thinness, lightness, and flexibility with freedom of choice in color, transparency, and more options. Pioneering manufacturers are leveraging style to carve open new markets, gradually improving conversion efficiency, service life, and cost.
It seems likely that organic solar cell technology development will proceed in two directions. The first is the low-end market where design and style can be important, and the second is the high-end market where conversion efficiency, service life, and other characteristics are critical. In both cases, though, printing technology will be used throughout most of the manufacturing process.
There were a number of exhibitions at CEATEC Japan 2009, held in October 2009, dealing with the design-critical low-end market. TDK Corp., for example, showed a reference design of a dye-sensitive solar cell that is not only available in multiple colors, but also with display patterns. The patterns are drawn with silver wiring formed through screen printing. TDK plans to sample-ship in 2011 or 2012. Nissha Printing Co., Ltd. and the Shimane Institute for Industrial Technology cooperatively exhibited a dye-sensitized solar cell with a wide range of possible colors, transparencies, and other features. Product shipment is slated for 2012. Rohm Co., Ltd. prototyped a variety of indoor decorative objects mounting dye-sensitized solar cells, such as fans, explaining that the printing made it possible to use a range of design options, including colors and gradations.Nikkei Electronics |
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