A life cycle analysis of polymer solar cell modules prepared using roll-to-roll methods under ambient conditions

Espinosa, Nieves; García-Valverde, Rafael; Urbina, Antonio; Krebs, Frederik C.

Publication:
A life cycle analysis of polymer solar cell modules prepared using roll-to-roll methods under ambient conditions

dc.contributor.author	Espinosa, Nieves
dc.contributor.author	García-Valverde, Rafael
dc.contributor.author	Urbina, Antonio
dc.contributor.author	Krebs, Frederik C.
dc.contributor.department	Física
dc.date.accessioned	2024-02-08T12:08:51Z
dc.date.available	2024-02-08T12:08:51Z
dc.date.copyright	© 2010 Elsevier B.V.
dc.description.abstract	A life cycle analysis was performed on a full roll-to-roll coating procedure used for the manufacture of flexible polymer solar cell modules. The process known as ProcessOne employs a polyester substrate with a sputtered layer of the transparent conductor indium-tin-oxide (ITO). The ITO film was processed into the required pattern using a full roll-to-roll process, employing screen printing of an etch resist and then applying etching, stripping, washing and drying procedures. The three subsequent layers; ZnO, P3HT:PCBM and PEDOT:PSS were slot-die coated and the silver back electrode was screen printed. Finally the polymer solar modules were encapsulated, using a polyester barrier material. All operations except the application of ITO were carried out under ambient conditions. The life cycle analysis delivered a material inventory of the full process for a module production, and an accountability of the energy embedded both in the input materials and in the production processes. Finally, upon assumption of power conversion efficiencies and lifetime for the modules, a calculation of energy pay-back time allowed us to compare this roll-to-roll manufacturing with other organic and hybrid photovoltaic technologies. The results showed that an Energy Pay-Back Time (EPBT) of 2.02 years can be achieved for an organic solar module of 2% efficiency, which could be reduced to 1.35 years, if the efficiency was 3%.	en
dc.format	application/pdf	es
dc.format.extent	10
dc.identifier.doi	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.solmat.2010.08.020
dc.identifier.issn	Print: 0927-0248
dc.identifier.issn	Electronic: 1879-3398
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/10201/138998
dc.language	eng	es
dc.publisher	Elsevier
dc.relation	Danish Strategic Research Council (DSF 2104-05-0052 and 2104-07-0022), EUDP (j. nr. 64009-0050), by the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation (Consolider-HOPE CSD2007-00007), by Comunidad Autonoma de la Region de Murcia (CARM-D429-2008)	es
dc.rights.accessRights	info:eu-repo/semantics/restrictedAccess
dc.subject	Life cycle analysis	en
dc.subject	Polymer solar cells	en
dc.subject	Roll-to-roll coating	en
dc.subject	Flexible substrates	en
dc.title	A life cycle analysis of polymer solar cell modules prepared using roll-to-roll methods under ambient conditions	es
dc.type	info:eu-repo/semantics/article	es
dc.type.version	info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion
dspace.entity.type	Publication	es