Why Do We Need Printed Solar Cells?
The mass production of photovoltaic technology at low cost is desperately needed in the solar industry. The power that a PV panel generates is proportional to the surface area exposed to sunlight.
Printed and flexible solar cells are cheaper to fabricate and produce far less waste. They are lightweight, flexible and translucent in comparison with other materials. They use little material and can generate electricity even in low light conditions.
Gravure Printing
Patterns are printed through a perforated screen
Versatile technique, which can make patternable solar cells
Require turning materials into a paste for extrusion that can alter precursor chemistry
Screen Printing
Traditional printing method based on engraving
Involves passing the substrate over a rotating cylinder
Produces high-resolution patterns
Widely used in graphic and package printing
What is Screen Printing?
Screen printing, also known as silk screening or silkscreen printing, is the process of transferring a stencilled design onto a surface using a mesh screen, ink, and a squeegee (a rubber blade). The basic process of screen printing involves creating a stencil on a mesh screen and then pushing the ink to create and imprint the design on the below surface. The most common surface used in screen printing is paper and fabric, but metal, wood, and plastic can also be used. It is a very popular technique because of many reasons, but the most compelling reason is the vast choice of colours that can be used.
