Printable Photovoltaic Solar Cells

Summary

Printable photovoltaic modules and other electronic components like light‐emitting diodes, thin‐film transistors, capacitors, coils, resistors, and so on are less expensive than deposited devices. The printable solar cell (PSC) has potential in many application domains due to its ease of fabrication and ability to use large‐area flexible substrates. PSC's light‐absorbing layer is usually thinner than that of commonly used conventional Si solar cells in several orders of magnitude. This allows less consumption of material for PCS manufacturing and producing and there is significantly less wastage. Large area flexible substrates enable smart clothing and solar‐powered window coverings, among other cutting‐edge applications. In this chapter, the metal oxide electron and hole transport materials used in PSCs are reviewed and preparation of these materials is summarized. Finally, the challenges and future research direction for metal oxide‐based charge transport materials are described.