massachusetts-based konarka technologies [ 1 ] announced that it has successfully demonstrated the ability to print solar cells with an inkjet printer. the technology could be used to reduce the cost of making solar panels.
inkjet printing is a commonly used technique for controlled deposition of solutions of functional materials in specific locations on a substrate and can provide easy and fast deposition of polymer films over a large area. the demonstration confirms that organic solar cells can be processed with printing technologies with little or no loss compared to clean room semiconductor technologies such as spin coating.