Nanotechnology Now - Press Release: The Pennsylvania NanoMaterials Commercialization Center Funds Plextronics' Plexcore PV Development for Organic Solar Cells

Home > Press > The Pennsylvania NanoMaterials Commercialization Center Funds Plextronics' Plexcore PV Development for Organic Solar Cells

Abstract:
Plextronics, a world leader indeveloping and delivering active layer technology for electronic devices, announced it has been awarded a $340,500 grant from the Pennsylvania
NanoMaterials Commercialization Center (the Center). This initiative willfocus on the continued development of Plexcore(TM) PV active layer technology for organic solar cells. Plexcore PV is a new generation of polymer-based semi-conductive inks that increase solar conversion efficiency, while extending the lifetime of the device.

The Pennsylvania NanoMaterials Commercialization Center Funds Plextronics' Plexcore PV Development for Organic Solar Cells

PITTSBURGH, PA | Posted on April 9th, 2007

Plexcore PV has already achieved improved efficiency over standard
organic photovoltaic technology. Plextronics co-founder and chief scientist
Dr. Richard McCullough, dean of the Mellon College of Science at Carnegie
Mellon University, invented the core polymer technology that has become the
standard for organic-based solar cells. Plextronics continues to build upon
this important foundation with the development of Plexcore PV.

"The primary commercialization challenge for organic solar cell
technology is achieving the required combination of operating efficiency
and device lifetime. Nanotechnology is the key to success," stated Dr. Alan
Brown, executive director of the Center. "The ability to control polymer
design at the nano-scale enables Plexcore inks to be formulated with
application- specific properties. In this initiative, the application is
organic solar cells. But, the results will have impact on multiple
industries and applications," he added.

New thin film technologies, including organic solar cells, hold the
promise of being low cost and will enable new market opportunities that
have not previously utilized alternative energy sources, such as mobile
devices. In the future, these technologies will contribute to the rapid
expansion of zero emission solar energy, thereby reducing our reliance on
fossil fuels.

"We are excited to have the support of the Pennsylvania NanoMaterials
Commercialization Center in developing Plexcore PV technology. The
development of active layer technology is crucial to the broad market
commercialization of organic solar cells," explains Andrew Hannah,
president and CEO of Plextronics.

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About Plextronics
Plextronics, Inc. is a world leader in developing and delivering active
layer technology for printed electronic devices -- OLED displays and
lighting, polymer solar cells and plastic circuitry. Active layer
technology is the printed conductors and semiconductors that drive device
performance. Plextronics has unsurpassed control of polymer design and ink
formulation, as well as an intimate understanding of device physics and its
impact on device performance. This knowledge is applied to the creation of
Plexcore technology, which is specifically designed for each application to
maximize device efficiency and operating lifetime in a cost effective
manner. In 2006, Plextronics received the following recognition: The Wall
Street Journal Technology Innovation Awards Runner-Up, the Organic
Semiconductor Industry Awards Start-Up of the Year, A Top 50 Nanotechnology
Start-Up by Lux Research, and NREL Clean Energy Entrepreneur of the Year.

About the Pennsylvania NanoMaterials Commercialization Center

The Pennsylvania NanoMaterials Commercialization Center provides
assistance and funding to promising nanomaterials research which has a well
defined defense or commercial application. The projects that the center
supports will establish southwestern Pennsylvania as a premier location for
nanomaterials research and production, link the region's nano capabilities
with the efforts of the National Nanotechnology Initiative, leverage
nanomaterials related research at Pennsylvania's universities to develop
commercially viable products, and strengthen Pennsylvania's nanomaterials
related companies to expand employment opportunities within the
commonwealth.