The EU has aligned itself with the Paris Agreement to achieve net-zero CO2 emissions or better. It aims to cut emissions by 40 % and increase the share of renewables to 32 % by 2030. However, the emergence of new challenges has prompted the EU to seek innovative solutions. The EU-funded PHOENIX project aims to provide one such solution by establishing a novel strategy and technologies for converting CO2 into propanol and transforming PET plastic waste into glycolic acid, yielding dual benefits. The project will also develop a photovoltaic system with high energy generation and electrocatalysts for the conversion of CO2 and PET.

This tandem cell, developed at ZSW, consists of two light-active layers: a Cu(In,Ga)Se2 layer and a perovskite layer. Both materials can be adjusted so that together they generate a particularly high voltage of over 2 volts, which is sufficient for the reaction. The central issue is the production of the tandem using scalable technologies that could also be used in industrial manufacturing. The lower CIGS layer of the solar cell is produced in a highly scaled continuous coating system. Slot die coating is used for the upper layer of perovskite. This enables larger cell areas, but also presents challenges: The layer thickness must be precisely controlled, the ink must flow evenly, and the film must be of the same quality throughout. The end result should be a tandem solar cell with an active area of several square centimeters that supplies enough current and voltage to drive the desired chemical reaction – an important step toward practical application (technology readiness level 4).

Project Website: https://phoenix-heu.eu/

LinkedIn Channel: https://www.linkedin.com/company/phoenix-heu

Cordis Subpage: https://cordis.europa.eu/project/id/101172764