What’s actually slowing this PC down?
Pick the symptom - the matching free tool is one click away.
iTechGuides is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Learn more
In 2014, a Danish-led research team demonstrated that flexible organic tandem solar modules could be made and encapsulated using a complete roll-to-roll process. The achievement showed that a complex organic photovoltaic device could be manufactured continuously on flexible foil; it did not show that the modules were commercially competitive or ready for consumers.
What was the manufacturing milestone?
The milestone was the successful roll-to-roll production of encapsulated, flexible organic tandem solar-cell modules. Thomas R. Andersen and colleagues reported the work in “Scalable, ambient atmosphere roll-to-roll manufacture of encapsulated large area, flexible organic tandem solar cell modules,” published in Energy & Environmental Science in 2014. The paper describes a 14-layer device and a process developed across laboratory and pilot roll-coating work before full roll-to-roll processing. The Royal Society of Chemistry publisher record provides the paper’s abstract and publication details.
Chemistry World’s 19 June 2014 account called it the first successful roll-to-roll manufacture of tandem OPV modules. It reported that a module was printed onto foil each second. That is the rate attributed to the demonstration in the contemporary report, not evidence of sustained factory output or present-day commercial throughput. Chemistry World’s report gives that account.
How did the roll-to-roll process work?
Roll-to-roll manufacturing processes a flexible web of material through successive production steps, rather than making each device as a separate rigid panel. For this tandem module, the challenge was coordinating many functional layers, materials, inks, and process conditions so that they formed a working device and could be encapsulated.
#1 Best Overall
Printing, coating, testing, and lamination
The paper lists flexographic printing, rotary screen printing, and slot-die coating among the methods used to build the stack. It also identifies X-ray scattering and electrical testing, as well as UV lamination for encapsulation. These are complementary steps in an integrated manufacturing route, not a claim that every layer was made by the same technique.
The authors specifically highlight a robust, inline-processed recombination layer as important to achieving high technical yield. In a tandem device, that layer connects the photovoltaic sub-cells electrically. A workable process therefore depended not just on depositing individual layers, but on making the interfaces and production sequence function together. The Technical University of Denmark record summarizes the study and its collaboration.
Why use a tandem design?
A tandem solar cell stacks multiple photovoltaic junctions. Chemistry World explained that this architecture can harvest a broader part of the light spectrum, but it also makes manufacturing more complex because the layers must be combined into a functioning device. The cited publisher abstract establishes the tandem stack and manufacturing process; it does not state a measured efficiency value.
Crashes, No Sound, or Screen Glitches?
Random freezes, missing sound and display glitches usually trace back to one bad driver. Find and replace yours safely.Free scan · under a minuteWindows Errors? Fix Them Before They Spread
Repair common Windows errors and clear accumulated junk for a smoother, more stable PC - no reinstall needed.Free scan · no reinstallWhat the result established—and what it did not
The paper demonstrated process feasibility: functional, encapsulated flexible modules could be produced through a full roll-to-roll route. That is a manufacturing milestone, distinct from showing competitive module efficiency, long operational life, low cost, or meaningful deployed output.
In its 2014 report, Chemistry World identified efficiency and operational lifetime as important constraints for organic photovoltaics at the time. Seth Darling of Argonne National Laboratory cautioned: “The performance from these scalably fabricated devices has a long way to go to achieve commercial viability, but this work clearly shows that the process itself is feasible and has the potential for genuine market impact.” That assessment captures the distinction between proving a production method and proving a market-ready solar product.
Frederik Krebs, the researcher discussing practical process performance and yield, emphasized production consistency over a standout sample: “If I have made a kilometre of solar cells, then I am not interested if one module has an efficiency of 10% and the rest are 2% – I think what is important is what you can make for the public.” He continued: “I am the guy that makes a lot of it and tries to look for the average and what is practical, and then there are the other guys that look at what is obtainable. Everybody has their role to play and hopefully we will meet some day, probably somewhere in the middle.” Both quotations appear in Chemistry World’s contemporary report.
Rank #4
- Lightweight and Portable Design: with its ultra-thin and lightweight construction, this solar panel is nice for those convenient situations; Although it's fragile and requires careful handling, its compact size makes transportation effortless, allowing you to harness solar energy wherever you are; Ideal for outdoor enthusiasts and travelers alike
- Powerful Polycrystalline Efficiency: equipped with 200 pcs of high efficiency polycrystalline silicon, this panel offers a potent energy output at 0.5V and 400mA, easily meeting your power needs; Experience up to 18% energy conversion, ensuring maximum solar energy utilization even on cloudy days
- Easy DIY and Customization: unlock your creativity with our solar cells, ideal for building DIY powered models, solar things, and displays; Easily adjust power and voltage by connecting in series or parallel, empowering you to tailor the output to your specific requirements
- Versatile Outdoor Application: engineered for versatility, this solar panel suits a variety of outdoor activities, emergencies, and work scenarios; Depend on continuous energy supply regardless of weather conditions, keeping your devices charged up and ready
- Seamless Connectivity: ensure correct connections with the color-coded design: blue side for negative (-) and the other side for positive (+); For enhanced power delivery, use solder strips, thus effectively stabilizing your solar projects for optimal performance
Who worked on the project?
The corresponding author was Frederik C. Krebs of the Technical University of Denmark. The publisher record lists collaborators affiliated with organizations including Heraeus Precious Metals, DELO Industrial Adhesives, Merck Chemicals, and VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland. The affiliations show research and industrial collaboration around the manufacturing work; they do not establish that those organizations currently sell the demonstrated module or that it is commercially available.
Quick wins for a faster PC:
Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →What to take away from the 2014 milestone
- It showed that flexible, encapsulated organic tandem modules could be produced with a complete roll-to-roll process.
- The device had a 14-layer stack, making coordinated materials and process development central to the achievement.
- The process combined printing, coating, testing, and UV lamination rather than relying on one manufacturing step.
- The reported one-module-per-second rate belongs to Chemistry World’s description of the 2014 demonstration, not a current factory-output claim.
- The result addressed manufacturing feasibility; it did not establish commercial competitiveness or present-day availability.
The paper appeared in volume 7 of Energy & Environmental Science, pages 2925–2933, and was first published on 19 June 2014. The Royal Society of Chemistry record is the primary publisher source for those bibliographic details.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
