Merck KGaA and Nano-C have announced the development and launch of new fullerene derivative products for organic photovoltaics (OPV).
According to the company the new chemistries show a significant improvement in lifetime and thermal stability while increasing open circuit voltage using environmentally friendly non-halogenated solvent systems. These new C60 based fullerene derivatives solve critical thermal degradation issues. Using these derivatives the Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, team developed active layer formulations ready for deposition deploying a range of industrial coating techniques. “Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, is pleased to have had the opportunity to work with an exceptional development team at Nano-C. By combining Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany,’s leading-edge polymer and formulation development capabilities with Nano-C’s expertise and intellectual property in fullerene derivative development, the achieved results solidify our leading position. This will provide our customers with secure supply of high-performance materials that will shape the future of the OPV industry,” said Richard Harding, Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany’s Global Head of Business Development – Photovoltaics, “The OPV installation in the German Pavilion at the EXPO 2015 in Milan using materials from Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, is an example of things to come in emerging building-integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) and other areas where the unique features of OPV will stand out.”
“The results of our collaborative development program point the way to a cost effective C60 based acceptor for use with low band-gap systems, offering comparable stability to C70 based fullerene derivatives in OPV,” added Viktor Vejins, President and CEO of Nano-C. “Nano-C looks forward to working with Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, to scale up these chemistries and move into the commercialization phase.”
The joint development is based on intellectual property (IP) that both companies hold together. It brings together Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany’s extensive experience with organic semiconducting materials and Nano-C’s unique know-how in fullerene derivatives. Under its lisicon® brand, Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, is actively working on novel organic semiconducting materials for electronic and photovoltaic applications at the Chilworth Technical Center, its chemicals research site near Southampton, UK.
