Henkel and Brilliant Matters Partner to Enhance Organic Photovoltaic Manufacturing Efficiency

Henkel has formed a strategic partnership with Brilliant Matters, a leading provider of organic semiconductor materials for printed electronics, to develop advanced screen-printable silver inks for organic photovoltaic (OPV) applications. The collaboration aims to support the production of more efficient and durable OPV panels using high-throughput roll-to-roll manufacturing processes, which will enable greater scalability and commercial adoption of next-generation solar technologies.

The partnership seeks to overcome a key barrier to the large-scale commercialisation of organic photovoltaic (OPV) technology: the ability to screen-print high-resolution conductive silver lines onto OPV sub-stacks without introducing defects that reduce panel efficiency and long-term durability. Developing reliable, high-throughput metallisation processes that maintain optimal device performance is still one of the industry's biggest technical challenges, so this collaboration is an important step toward scalable OPV manufacturing.

The collaboration builds upon the recent launch of BM10 by Brilliant Matters, an advanced organic photovoltaic (OPV) technology designed to accelerate the commercialisation of next-generation solar solutions. BM10 enables the production of flexible, semi-transparent OPV panels capable of delivering power outputs exceeding 100 W/m² under standard test conditions while achieving operational lifetimes of more than 25 years. Translating this performance from laboratory development to large-scale manufacturing requires not only high-performance active materials but also the precise integration and optimisation of every layer and process in the device architecture. The partnership aims to address these requirements and support the scalable production of high-efficiency, durable OPV panels.

“Delivering high-performance OPV at scale requires more than material innovation – it demands a fully optimized ecosystem,” said Philippe Berrouard, Chief Technology Officer at Brilliant Matters. “Our collaboration with Henkel reflects our commitment to assembling all the critical pieces needed to enable reliable, high-throughput OPV manufacturing.” Varun Vohra, Engineering Department Manager at Brilliant Matters, added: “Achieving fine-line conductive patterning on sensitive OPV device stacks requires precise control over material formulation, print rheology, and process integration. By combining Henkel’s expertise in advanced conductive inks with Brilliant Matters’ OPV platform and roll-to-roll manufacturing know-how, we are developing metallization solutions specifically engineered to enable scalable, defect-minimized OPV production.”

Henkel contributes deep expertise in advanced materials, including conductive inks and adhesive technologies for printed electronics. With a strong global presence and extensive experience in scalable manufacturing, the company is well-positioned to co-develop high-performance silver inks that meet the stringent requirements of high-throughput organic photovoltaic (OPV) production. Through this collaboration, Henkel aims to help accelerate the commercialisation of efficient, durable, and cost-effective OPV technologies.

“By combining Henkel’s in-depth know-how in silver ink formulation and chemistries, with Brilliant Matters’ deep understanding of OPV device architecture, we are accelerating the path toward industrial adoption,” said Thibaut Soulestin, Technology Manager for Printed Electronics at Henkel. “This partnership highlights the importance of cross-industry collaboration in bringing next-generation energy technologies to market.”

Over the past year, Henkel and Brilliant Matters have closely collaborated to develop advanced screen-printable silver inks that meet the precision, conductivity, and process compatibility requirements for high-performance organic photovoltaic (OPV) manufacturing. Initial results have shown promising performance, indicating that these inks can be easily integrated into high-throughput roll-to-roll production lines and can support the scalable commercialisation of next-generation OPV technologies.

Source: Henkel