Roll-to-Roll Coater Powers Scaled Printing of Organic and Perovskite Solar Cells at the University of Surrey

Dr. Dimitar Kutsarov uses the Tabletop Roll-to-Roll Coater for scaling up perovskites.

Pioneering Research at the Advanced Technology Institute

The Advanced Technology Institute (ATI) at the University of Surrey is one of the UK’s leading centers for research in nanotechnology, advanced materials, and opto-electronic devices. Its mission is to develop next-generation technologies that address global challenges in energy, healthcare, and communications.

To expand its capabilities, ATI opened the Scaled Printing Laboratory (SPL), a state-of-the-art research facility dedicated to the fabrication of large-area printed devices. The SPL provides researchers with the tools to scale up emerging technologies such as solar cells, transistors, batteries, and sensors from laboratory concepts to functional prototypes.

The Need for Scalable and Precise Coating Technology

Scaling up printed devices requires precise and reliable coating technologies that can bridge the gap between small-area laboratory experiments and larger-area fabrication. For solar cell research, in particular, consistency in thin-film deposition is essential to achieving high efficiency and reproducibility. The ATI sought a flexible tool that could handle a wide range of materials and coating conditions, while also supporting advanced drying and curing methods.

Dr. Dimitar Kutsarov shares his work on scaling up the fabrication of perovskite modules.

ATI’s Experience with the Tabletop Roll-to-Roll Coater

When evaluating fabrication equipment for the Scaled Printing Laboratory, ATI researchers selected the Tabletop Roll-to-Roll Coater from infinityPV. The system provided exceptional control over key parameters such as coating speed and substrate temperature, which are critical for solar cell fabrication. The Tabletop Roll-to-Roll Coater also offered interchangeable drying modules, including hot air and infrared, giving researchers the versatility to optimize coating conditions for different material systems.

Dr. Dimitar Kutsarov, Research Fellow at the Advanced Technology Institute and responsible for scaling up opto-electronic devices, explained:

When we were choosing the fabrication tools for the Scaled Printing Laboratory, we were pleased to discover that infinityPV offers a versatile industrial roll-to-roll coater, the Tabletop Roll-to-Roll Coater, which is capable of depositing functional materials via the slot-die coating technique.

The Tabletop Roll-to-Roll Coater offers very good control over various fabrication parameters, such as coating speed and temperature in addition to the possibility of choosing from different drying options (hot air and IR drying). Therefore, we acquired the Tabletop Roll-to-Roll Coater to use it for the fabrication of perovskite- or organic-based solar cells.

The communication with the infinityPV team was excellent and professional, and the delivery was very quick. We use the Tabletop Roll-to-Roll Coater daily and we are very happy with the product, hence we would recommend it further.

— Dr. Dimitar Kutsarov, Research Fellow

Dr. Dimitar Kutsarov using the Tabletop Roll-to-Roll Coater.

From Tabletop to Laboratory Roll-to-Roll Coater

The Tabletop Roll-to-Roll Coater proved to be an invaluable tool for the Advanced Technology Institute’s solar cell research. Building on this foundation, the platform has since evolved into the Laboratory Roll-to-Roll Coater, designed to offer even greater flexibility and performance.

The Laboratory Roll-to-Roll Coater is more modular and more compact than ever before. It is available in multiple sizes with a smaller footprint, making it easy to integrate into laboratories, gloveboxes, or fume hoods. The system now supports advanced processes such as slurry coating, laser scribing, and wet processing, alongside expanded modular drying and curing methods including inert gas, UV, and UV-LED.

With its enhanced precision, adaptability, and compact design, the Laboratory Roll-to-Roll Coater has become a highly customizable platform for cutting-edge research in printed electronics worldwide.

Impact on Solar Cell Research and Beyond

The Tabletop Roll-to-Roll Coater allowed ATI researchers to fabricate perovskite and organic solar cells with high repeatability and process control, accelerating the translation of laboratory-scale experiments into scalable prototypes. By adopting roll-to-roll slot-die coating technology, the institute reinforced its position as a leader in energy materials research and created new opportunities for innovation across the spectrum of printed electronics.

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