Vol.4 No.4 2012

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Research paper : Development of high efficiency flexible solar cells (A. Masuda )−195−Synthesiology - English edition Vol.4 No.4 (2012) To solve this issue, the strategy of increasing the heat resistance of the polymer base material can be considered, but in this research, we investigated the way to produce the equivalent characteristic as the texture formed on the transparent conductive oxide, by developing a new technology of forming the texture on the polymer base material itself. By doing so, the transparent conductive oxide itself does not have to be prepared at high substrate temperature necessary for the texture formation, and the film preparation condition can be eased greatly.Such technological development could not be done by the Research Center for Photovoltaics (RCPV; currently, Research Center for Photovoltaic Technologies), AIST alone. While RCPV had abundant experiences and know-how for the fabrication of solar cells, it did not have the technology for the polymer base material or roll-to-roll apparatus necessary to fabricate the flexible solar cells. Therefore, for the smooth and quick execution of research, we conducted a joint research in the industry-academia-government collaborative consortium style, where the findings of industry, academia and government could be accumulated. This was led by the material and apparatus manufacturers that possessed the technologies.There are roughly two objectives of the consortium style joint research. One is to accelerate the development by rapid accumulation of technologies, where multiple private companies engage in concentrated research on a topic, and this may also accelerate the transfer of the results to industry. Second is to conduct on-the-job training of the joint researchers dispatched from the private companies to AIST, and the building of human network as well as the sharing of research results can be expected through the collaborative research by multiple companies. The following account depicts the activities of the “Flexible Solar Cell Substrates Consortium” that was established to execute the R&D according to the above scenario.The first phase of the “Flexible Solar Cell Substrates Consortium” was from June 2006 to March 2008. Eight companies participated: Ishikawajima-Harima Heavy Industries Co., Ltd. (changed its name to IHI Corporation), Ishikawa Seisakusho, Ltd., Kimoto Co., Ltd., Tsutsunaka Plastic Industry Co., Ltd. (merged with Sumitomo Bakelite and changed its name to Sumitomo Bakelite Co., Ltd.), Teijin DuPont Films Japan Ltd., The Nippon Synthetic Chemical Industry Co., Ltd., Mitsubishi Gas Chemical Company, Inc., and Reiko Co., Ltd. The Industrial Research Institute of Ishikawa and a solar cell company served as observers. Figure 2 shows the organization of the first phase of the consortium.The second phase was from April 2008 to March 2010. Seven companies participated: Arisawa Manufacturing Co., Ltd., Kimoto Co., Ltd., Sumitomo Bakelite Co., Ltd., Teijin DuPont Films Japan Ltd., Toshiba Machine Co., Ltd., The Nippon Synthetic Chemical Industry Co., Ltd., and Mitsubishi Gas Chemical Company, Inc. The same solar cell company from the first phase participated as the observer. The third phase is in progress since April 2010, with the participation by five companies: Kimoto Co., Ltd., Teijin DuPont Films Japan Ltd., Toshiba Machine Co., Ltd., The Nippon Synthetic Chemical Industry Co., Ltd., and Mitsubishi Gas Chemical Company, Inc. Currently, the research has entered the phase of realization. Figure 3 shows the realization scenario of this consortium, limited to the content described in this paper, and indicates the members involved in this research topic and their role divisions. Fig. 1 Principle of light confinement in amorphous silicon solar cellsFig. 2 Organization of the “Flexible Solar Cell Substrates Consortium” (Phase 1)Amorphous siliconTransparent conductive oxideTransparent conductive oxideSilver back electrodeGlass substrateTexturepinObserverThe Industrial Research Institute of IshikawaApparatus for barrier film deviceApparatus for barrier film deviceConsortium Management CommitteeSolar cell companySolar cell fabrication technologySolar cell fabrication technologyDevelopment of the flexible base material with light confinement and barrier functionsTen joint researchers from 8 companies; Concentrated research method at AISTNewly developed high-function flexible base materialNewly developed high-function flexible base materialI H IReikoMitsubishi Gas ChemicalNippon Synthetic Chemical IndustryTeijin DuPont FilmsSumitomo BakeliteKimotoIshikawa Seisakusho

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