Products which require complicated material systems and nanoscale structural organization, e.g. third-generation solar cells, are often difficult to develop. This is because electronic properties of bulk semiconductors are often masked or at least strongly superimposed by material interface properties. Additionally these interface properties are also complex and thus make product design difficult. This project aims at solving this problem by offering a nanoscale characterization platform for the European manufacturers of coatings, photovoltaic cells, and semi-conductor circuits. It is proposed to use a combination of scanning microwave microscopes, dielectric resonators, and simulation to measure the material and interface properties of complicated material systems and nano-structures. A metrological system of cross-checks between different instruments, models and simulations with associated error bars is indispensable for obtaining trustworthy results. Scanning microwave measurements will be directly used for three-dimensional characterization of electrical properties of nanostructured semiconductors used in organic and hybrid photovoltaic cells. The objective is to accelerate the development of high efficiency cells and to have measures to predict performances in early stages of prototype production. Where process monitoring of materials with nanostructures is necessary, a dielectric resonator is used to translate insights from scanning microwave microscope measurements to fabrication environments. Such dielectric resonators could be directly integrated in production lines for monitoring thin film deposition processes. An open innovation environment will make the uptake of the results easier for European industry. A database containing exemplary measurement datasets of scanning microwave microscopes will be available in calibrated and raw versions. Simulation results of tip-semiconductor interactions will be made available on the EMMC Modeling Market Place.

Lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) are one of the most important electrochemical energy storage system for IoT devices (in 2015, 5.6B LIBs were sold worldwide). However, lithium mining is extremely damaging to the environment and it harms the soil and causes air contamination. Furthermore, the typical estimated life of a LIB is about very short, 2/3 years or 300 to 500 charge cycles, whichever occurs first. Dracula Technologies has developed the LAYER, the green alternative to LIBs. The LAYER is an OPV module produced through inkjet printing that generates energy from ambient light and that is specifically designed for IoT devices, such as smart home tools. It consists of 2 electrodes,2 interfacial layers and the active LAYER, made of organic raw materials (semiconducting organic molecules or polymers, fullerene derivatives, non-fullerene derivatives). It is less than 5mm thick and its power conversion efficiency (PCE) under outdoor and indoor illumination is respectively 12% and 25%.

The project Efficient Organic Photovoltaic Sensors (EFFECTOR) will deliver innovative and environmentally-friendly solutions for digital and wearable electronics at TRL7. These objects will be individually powered by harvesting low-level light and will be made from sustainable materials for a bright digital future. EFFECTOR will contribute to a strategic position through an open economy in the key digital, and human-centric emerging technology by developing highly sustainable energy harvesting under diffuse, low-light conditions in the key areas of security and health. EFFECTOR will create new sustainable European value chains for photovoltaic technologies and open new innovative business-to-business operations by doubling the efficiency of non-toxic organic solar cells for use under low-level light. It will couple in a streamline way with non-toxic, sustainable supercapacitors with advanced low power electronics. The EFFECTOR strategy is to bring solar cell technology to mainstream use by eliminating the need for mains electricity from everyday human-centred electronics. It will develop sustainable materials and processes, using non-toxic materials and reducing environmental impact applicable for a huge raft of human-centred technologies and innovations. EFFECTOR draws on the world-leading inkjet OPV manufacturing of Dracula Technologies, the sustainable non-toxic aqueous supercapacitors of Innocell, and the high fidelity power management systems from e-peas. With its world-leading academic partners in solar cell design (SDU), high throughput industrial electronic printing and integration (VTT) and polymers for solar cell stabilization (CNRS), it will demonstrate this innovative multi-faceted approach in vital health monitoring with Polar and portable device applications with CardLab’s biometric card technology. EFFECTOR will demonstrate how low-level and indoor light can power our future in a secure, reliable and sustainable way.