The SOLAR ERA.NET Cofund funded project ‚NEXT FOIL’ develops next generation photovoltaics, based on organic, inorganic or hybrid absorbers (such as perovskites). They allow to fabricate thin, lightweight and flexible modules. This makes them attractive for integration in building façades and consumer products.

These technologies rely on substrates coated with a transparent electrode.  Despite its high cost, poor mechanical stability and limited applicability as cathode, in flexible modules, ITO-coated (ITO: indium tin oxide) PET is by far the most common.  NEXT-FOIL develops an alternative to ITO-coated PET, based on dielectric/metal/dielectric (DMD) multilayers, sputtered at industry-compatible deposition rates.

AIT will tackle design, simulation and experimental realization of the DMDs, PLANSEE will develop the sputter targets of the new compounds and SOLARONIX will implement the developed electrodes in efficient perovskite cells and modules. Selected electrodes will be deposited in a roll-to-roll process.

Head of the project: Theodoros Dimopoulos