Welcome to the Internet presentation of the Institute of Organic Chemistry II and Advanced Materials, University of Ulm

Our Institute pursues a broad experimental research program in the area of organic chemistry and materials science. We are also active in teaching and education in the field of organic and materials chemistry on all levels and in different degree programs.

Presently, we are particularly interested in the development of novel organic semiconductors, which are used in organic solar cells of the 3^rd generation thus constituting a future technology in the area of regenerative energies.

Compared to the established solar cell technology based on inorganic semiconductors such as silicon, the production of electrical energy by organic photovoltaics offers a series of essential advantages. Flexible as well as large area modules should be producible with very low material quantities, e.g., via printing processes.

We synthesize, develop and optimize novel organic semiconductors and dyes on the basis of thiophenes, which in cooperation with other universities, institutions and companies are implemented as active component in organic solar cells of different types. The following efficiencies have been achieved on lab scale:

• Dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSC): 9.6%
• Oligomer or small molecule solar cells (OSC):7.0% (Single cell)
  
• Polymer or bulk heterojunctons solar cells (BHJSC): 2.9%

In the summer of 2006 Heliatek Ltd Dresden/Ulm was founded as a spin-off company as a result of a cooperation with Technical University Dresden. Both universities participate as partners of Heliatek Ltd. The aim is the production of large area organic solar cells via printing technology. Currently Heliatek has 70 employees in Dresden and Ulm. A prototype of an ultrathin organic solar cell with an area of 15 x 15 cm² is shown above. The cell is constructed by overall 5 different layers of organic materials, each of which carries a specific function and has a thickness of less than 100 nanometers in total.