International consortium develops dye-sensitized solar cells

German Federal Ministry of Education and Research sponsors a subproject to develop innovative electrolytes for solar cells

14-May-2013 - Germany

Merck announced the start of a project sponsored by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) to develop high-efficiency cobalt-based dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). The project COBRA (organic cobalt-based low-cost printable large-area photovoltaics) will run for three years and cost a total of around EUR 3 million. Merck, the consortium leader, is participating in the research project together with 3GSolar from Jerusalem, Israel, and Colour Synthesis Solutions Ltd. (CSS) from Manchester, United Kingdom.

The partners in the project are pursuing the goal of significantly increasing the efficiency and stability of dye-sensitized solar cells. This is to be achieved, among others, by using a new cobalt-based redox system in a non-volatile electrolyte of the cell. Furthermore, the large-area dye-sensitized solar cells being developed are to have a projected lifetime of more than 20 years. This technology will offer an economically interesting alternative in parallel to the photovoltaic technologies already established today.

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