NEWS
Find out all the latest news coming from the Conn Center on research breakthroughs, publications, funding, and our people!
May 2, 2019
Hot off the press: UofL group to print solar panels using tools similar to printing industry
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – University of Louisville researchers are reimagining the newspaper printing press to significantly reduce the cost of solar energy.
UofL announced today that it has won a $1 million award from the U.S. Department of
Energy Solar Energy Technologies Office (SETO) to advance photovoltaics (PV) research
and development at the Conn Center for Renewable Energy Research. The project focuses
on thin film solar cell production using a roll-to-roll platform, the same used to print
newspapers.
Conn Center researchers have recently developed an extremely rapid processing
technique to produce commercially relevant perovskite solar cells, which are made with
simple chemistries to harvest light energy. This work was published in the Journal of
“This technology roll can revitalize a declining printing industry and boost a growing solar
industry,” says Thad Druffel, who is leading the research at the Conn Center. “Our process
will utilize centuries-old tools for a new market. The goal is to drastically reduce the cost of
manufacturing.”
Also on the team are Craig Grapperhaus, chemistry professor, and Delaina Amos,
associate chemical engineering professor.
“Great progress is being made by Conn Center researchers on meeting energy demands
through scientific and engineering innovation,” said Neeli Bendapudi, president of UofL.
“This is a shining example of how UofL is addressing the most important needs of our
society.”
Image: Thad Druffel, theme leader for solar manufacturing R&D at the Conn Center, inspecting a printed roll of thin film solar cell material produced at UofL’s Conn Center for Renewable Energy Research.
About the Solar Energy Technologies Office
The U.S. Department of Energy SETO supports early-stage research and development to improve the affordability, reliability and performance of solar technologies on the grid. Learn more about investments in new projects to lower solar electricity costs here.
