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Details of Grant 

EPSRC Reference: EP/N50984X/1
Title: Low Cost Copper Transparent Electrode Materials (LOCUST)
Principal Investigator: Huang, Dr Z
Other Investigators:
Endrino Armenteros, Professor J
Researcher Co-Investigators:
Project Partners:
Department: Sch of Aerospace, Transport & Manufact
Organisation: Cranfield University
Scheme: Technology Programme
Starts: 01 January 2016 Ends: 28 February 2017 Value (£): 111,966
EPSRC Research Topic Classifications:
Solar Technology
EPSRC Industrial Sector Classifications:
Energy
Related Grants:
Panel History:  
Summary on Grant Application Form
This project will produce low cost and high performance transparent conductive electrode (TCE) using copper nanowires (NW) for solar photovoltaic (PV) cells. TCE is essential for PV cells, currently met by silver and indium tin oxide (ITO). However, ITO is expensive, with limited supply, and tends to degrade in performance under stress, so there is great interests in alternative technology. Silver nanowire TCEs have been shown to be cheaper to produce and have better sheet conductance at the same transparency than ITO. Copper costs 1/100 of Ag or In, and Cu nanowire (Cu NW TCE) promises to be a more sustainable and lower cost system. The project aligns NW science in Cranfield University (CU) with industrial processing experience and capabilities on PV solar cells with industrial partners for development of Cu NW TCE. Cu NW and patterned thin films of Cu NW will be produced in CU. Coating to prevent oxidation of the CuNW will be developed by Applied Materials Technology, (AMT) , and device integration in both thin film and Si PV will be carried out by specialists Exergy and Solaris Photonics. Prototype devices will be evaluated against current technologies.
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Further Information:  
Organisation Website: http://www.cranfield.ac.uk