Advanced Printable Materials for Solar Cells & Photovoltaics
Renewable energy is a clean, inexhaustible and increasingly cost-competitive alternative to fossil fuels, and solar cells are central to reducing greenhouse gas emissions. A new generation of thin-film photovoltaic technologies — organic photovoltaics (OPV), copper indium gallium selenide (CIGS), silicon heterojunction and perovskites — now offers advantages over conventional silicon, including higher efficiency in indoor and low-light conditions, lightweight form factors suited to building-integrated photovoltaics (BIPV), and lower-cost production processes.
Dycotec Materials develops and manufactures a range of printable conductive and insulating materials engineered for thin-film solar technologies such as OPV and perovskite solar cells. Our materials enable cells to be produced with high efficiency and maximum power generation while meeting rigorous long-term durability standards.
What Solar Cell Manufacturing Challenges Do Dycotec Materials Solve?
Thin-film and next-generation solar cell manufacturing presents four interconnected materials challenges that Dycotec’s portfolio directly addresses:
1. High-conductivity, low-resistance electrodes
Electrode structures must combine high electrical conductivity with low contact resistance and fine line resolution to maximise power conversion efficiency. Dycotec’s conductive silver and carbon pastes are formulated to print high-resolution electrode patterns on delicate photovoltaic stacks.
2. Long-term durability and cell protection
Solar cells must survive years of environmental exposure without efficiency loss. Dycotec’s ultra-durable insulator and overcoat materials, used in combination with its conductive products, protect printed structures and extend operational lifetime.
3. Thermal management in modules and systems
Heat dissipation affects both efficiency and module lifetime. Dycotec supplies a broad range of thermal interface materials, gels and putties, phase change materials and thermally conductive adhesives, to support heat management across photovoltaic assemblies.
4. Reliable interconnection and sealing
Bus bar connections and edge sealing determine module reliability. Dycotec’s conductive adhesives, developed specifically for PV interconnection, together with its encapsulants and edge sealants, maximise solar cell durability and lifetime.
Dycotec’s Solar Cell Material Technologies Explained
Conductive Electrodes for OPV
For organic photovoltaic (OPV) systems, Dycotec recommends DM-SIP-3064S silver paste to produce highly conductive electrode structures with excellent long-term durability. The material is developed for both flat-bed and high-volume roll-to-roll (R2R) processing, supporting the lightweight, large-area form factors that make OPV attractive for BIPV and indoor energy harvesting.
Carbon Electrodes for Perovskite Cells
For perovskite solar cells, Dycotec has developed carbon pastes that form highly conductive electrode structures with power conversion efficiency approaching that of sputtered gold. They offer a lower-cost alternative to vacuum-deposited metals and deliver improved long-term performance without the cell degradation associated with conventional metal electrodes.
Insulators & Overcoats
Dycotec’s conductive products are designed to work alongside ultra-durable insulator and overcoat materials. These layers electrically isolate adjacent structures and shield printed electrodes from moisture and environmental stress, helping cells retain efficiency over an extended service life.
Next-Generation Photovoltaic R&D at Dycotec
Dycotec Materials is investing in advanced materials research across the emerging photovoltaic landscape, focused on areas such as:
UV & Thermally Cured Encapsulating Materials
New UV- and thermally-cured encapsulant chemistries are in development to deliver stronger environmental sealing and longer cell lifetimes, particularly for flexible and building-integrated formats that face demanding outdoor exposure.
Carbon Electrodes for Perovskite Stability
Dycotec is advancing carbon electrode systems for perovskite solar cells that target high power conversion efficiency while suppressing the degradation pathways linked to conventional metal electrodes, a key enabler for commercially viable, stable perovskite modules.
Work with Dycotec on Your Solar Cell Materials Challenge
Whether you need a standard material from our existing range or a custom formulation developed for your specific cell architecture, substrate and process, Dycotec’s technical team is available to advise.