Low temperature evaporation
In low temperature evaporation (LTE), resistive heating is used to evaporate materials held in a crucible.
The demand for renewable energy solutions has led to significant advances in solar technology, with organic photovoltaic cells (OPVs) emerging as a promising alternative to traditional silicon-based solar cells. OPVs rely on organic materials to absorb sunlight and convert it into electrical energy. One of the key techniques used in the fabrication of OPVs is low temperature thermal evaporation, a method within Physical Vapor Deposition (PVD) that enables the precise deposition of organic materials without damaging sensitive layers.
Advantages of Low Temperature Evaporation for OPV Fabrication
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Preservation of Organic Materials: Many organic compounds used in solar cells are thermally unstable, meaning they degrade when exposed to high temperatures. Low temperature thermal evaporation allows these materials to be deposited without exceeding their stability limits, ensuring optimal performance in the final device.
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Substrate Protection: Flexible or thin substrates, such as those used in next-generation solar cells, cannot withstand high temperatures. Low temperature evaporation minimizes thermal stress, enabling the use of innovative materials like polyethylene terephthalate (PET) or polyimide that are critical for flexible or lightweight solar panels.
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Precise Film Control: In organic solar cells, the thickness and uniformity of each layer are crucial for maximizing efficiency. Low temperature evaporation allows for fine control over film thickness, ensuring that the organic layers are evenly deposited without imperfections that could reduce performance.
LTE is suitable for materials with low evaporation temperatures of <600 °C, including organics (for OLED, OPV and OFET applications). Moorfield offers a range of solutions for LTE, including our MiniLab systems and our bench top nanoPVD-T15A system.