Losing My Resistance
- khashayar Ghaffarzadeh
- Sep 19
- 3 min read
Low Resistance Carbon Inks, Print Production, Perovskite Cells & Applications. Why carbon inks matter for the future of perovskite solar.
GraphEnergyTech Ltd will be presenting at TechBlick Perovskite Connect 2025 in Berlin.
Authors: Thomas Baumeler, Chris Jones, chris.jones@graphenergytech.com, GraphEnergyTech Ltd
Scaling perovskite solar & the challenge of moving from a reliance on silver
The solar industry accounted for approximately 19% of global silver demand in 2024 according to The Silver Institute, with projections suggesting that by 2050 this figure could be at 113% of current production. Silver has cost pressures, price volatility & environmental problems; as well as degradation issues that reduce stability & device lifetime.
The case for carbon & graphene
Our work focuses on replacing silver with carbon/graphene-based inks. A simple goal of high conductivity, low cost & environmental responsibility.
GraphEnergyTech’s printable carbon electrodes are already delivering lower resistance than traditional carbon inks, with up to 87% cost reduction compared with silver and a 97% lower carbon footprint.
By tuning our formulations, we are achieving repeatable sheet resistance values below 0.1 Ω/□ at low application weights. These translate into test cells reaching over 21% power conversion efficiency with engineered carbon interfaces. Fully printed cells have stabilised around 19% in controlled testing, while module-scale devices with carbon composites are now reporting 11% with ongoing stability trials.
Compatibility with industry processes
One of the biggest hurdles in moving away from silver is integration into existing production lines. From the outset our inks are designed for production & we are targeting speed and efficiency across screenprint, slot-die & ultimately flexo processes. The inks cure at low temperatures and are tailored for uniformity and repeatability at production speeds.
Applications beyond solar
While our main industry focus is on perovskite solar cells, the same ink formulations are being developed for wider printable electronics applications; including interconnects, touch sensors, bio-compatible sensors & display electrodes. Carbon-based inks are not only about cost savings but also about unlocking form factors that rigid metallic systems cannot match.
Opportunities & challenges ahead
Perovskite technology offers high efficiency under indoor lighting & lightweight/flexible modules that enable truly design-driven electronics. But there are challenges in stability & durability under heat, humidity & prolonged exposure. Our work contributes to these discussions by providing a materials platform that is low cost, highly conductive & compatible with real-world production.
Partnerships & projects
GraphEnergyTech is already active in major cross discipline UK/Taiwan, EU & global collaborative projects working to replace silver with graphene-based electrodes, improving stability and manufacturability to provide secure, sustainable & competitive energy supplies. Each project extends the reach of our inks into different applications & scales, with partners across academia, industry & government.
The discussion in Berlin will go beyond lab results. We will address what it takes to bring carbon inks into production, how they perform in real devices, and where they fit in the wider ecosystem of perovskite PV and printable electronics. We will also share how our collaborations with perovskite manufacturers and OEMs are shaping the next steps – from pilots to commercial integration.
For perovskite to grow from research promise to manufacturing reality, the industry needs reliable, affordable & sustainable electrode materials. Carbon and graphene-based systems offer a credible path forward & we invite you to join us in Berlin to be part of that conversation.
We welcome discussions with perovskite manufacturers, OEMs, and material suppliers interested in trials, pilots & co-development. To arrange a meeting during the event, please contact:
Thomas Baumeler – thomas.baumeler@graphenergytech.com
Chris Jones – chris.jones@graphenergytech.com
Applications. Why carbon inks matter for the future of perovskite solar.
What to expect in Berlin?
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