Organic photovoltaics — Aqueous-based fabrication

While photovoltaics have now established themselves as the leading renewable energy source accessible to the general public, the market remains dominated by silicon-based technologies. However, this market could soon be disrupted by new technologies capable of competing with inorganic solar panels. Among these, organic photovoltaics—based on polymers and small semiconductor molecules—offer competitive performance and energy return on investment at the academic level. However, scaling up to industrial production involves significant delays spanning several years, and several technological barriers are slowing the development of organic photovoltaics. Among these limitations, the fabrication of solar cells is a key issue that warrants further discussion. Environmental, health, and economic constraints impose regulations on the techniques available to ensure industrial-scale production.

This article details an alternative approach to conventional methods for manufacturing organic solar cells, using water as a solution. At first glance, the formation of semiconductor layers via an aqueous process may seem utopian. This strategy, which involves the synthesis of organic semiconductor nanoparticles in an aqueous medium, has enabled the achievement of remarkable energy efficiencies. To make this a credible strategy for industrial applications, it is crucial to accelerate its development and foster collaboration between the academic and industrial communities. To this end, this article provides a detailed description of the fundamentals of aqueous-based fabrication, from nanoparticle synthesis to their deposition and processing to obtain high-performance active layers. We will then discuss possible avenues for improving this process in a research and development context, as well as key considerations for industrial expansion.