Engineering: Fully Funded M2A ENGD Scholarship: Scalable Full Back-Contacted Roll-To-Roll Perovskite Photovoltaic Modules Utilising a Commercial 3D Embossed Substrate at Swansea University
Start date: October 2022
Expected interview date: May 2022
Academic supervisor: Professor Trystan Watson and Dr Eifion Jewell
Industrial supervisor: Dr Trevor McArdle
Sponsoring company: Power Roll Ltd.
Background:
Power Roll Ltd is a technology development company based in the North East of England. It is developing an innovative thin film photovoltaic (PV) technology that is based on a 3D patterned substrate suitable for high throughput roll-to-roll (R2R) manufacturing. As part of its scale up development, it is looking to develop R2R deposition of Perovskite into its patented architecture. PRL technology has been demonstrated at +10% efficiencies using spin coated perovskite into its flexible mini-module platform, but is now in the process of scaling all process parameters to R2R.
The project will be located within SPECIFIC as part of Professor Trystan Watson’s research group. SPECIFIC is a National Innovation and Knowledge Centre led by Swansea University, working collaboratively with Universities across the UK. SPECIFIC has significant capability and expertise across its team and facilities. Capabilities at SPECIFIC relate to the printing, coating and lifetime testing of functional materials, and the development of enabling technologies that support the transition from laboratory bench to factory floor.
The SPECIFIC PV scale-up and stability research activity is currently carried out at Swansea University’s new Bay Campus facility and is housed in purpose-built facilities which include a new stability testing and cleanroom printing facility.
Project Aims:
- Characterisation of Power Roll (PRL) architecture structure including electrode and transport materials positions, thickness and properties.
- Optimise perovskite formulation to match material architecture of PRLs substrates utilising standard spin coating deposition techniques.
- Assist PRL team to develop optimised material architecture based on analysis from IV data.
- Develop process for scale up printing of perovskite to adequately fill PRL microgrooves architecture.
- Develop optimised post processing of perovskite to accommodate variations in perovskite thickness.
- Demonstrate scalability of printing process on large R2R format.
- Transfer knowledge to PRL and assist in purchase of equipment suitable for PRL scale up.
This project will be largely based at Swansea University, but there will be occasions where short periods of time will be spent at the sponsoring company.