IMEC, the Belgian inter-university research institute has joined forces with the chemicals and materials experts from Cytec Industries (West Paterson, USA). Together they will conduct research aiming at designing solar cells which not only feature longer lifetime, but are commercially viable as well. The research focuses on organic materials, the target is an operational lifetime of at least five years.

The partners will approach this goal from two different sides: First, intrinsic stability issues of organic solar cells will be tackled by stabilizing the nanomorphology of the active material. Second, the ingress of intrinsic degradation sources such as oxygen or water vapor by developing an appropriate encapsulation technique.

The solutions will be based on Cytec's competencies if interfacial engineering and coating technology, the research duo said in a press release. IMEC will contribute its experience in organic solar cell processing and analysis.

The project is co-sponsored by the Institute for the Promotion of Innovation by Science and Technology in Flanders. It will run for two years.