Konarka is recognized throughout the world as a leader in OPV (organic photovoltaic) technology – a 3rd generation solar technology that is rapidly emerging to compete with silicon based 1st and 2nd generation solar technologies.

Konarka is recognized throughout the world as a leader in OPV (organic photovoltaic) technology – a 3rd generation solar technology that is rapidly emerging to compete with silicon based 1st and 2nd generation solar technologies. The company holds over 350 patents and filings covering every aspect of our proprietary chemistry and processes.  Our current research efforts are exploring exciting new OPV chemistries as well as advances to our existing technology that will produce greater power output at a lower cost.

At the heart of Konarka’s technology is a photo-reactive polymer material invented by Konarka co-founder and Nobel Prize winner, Dr. Alan Heeger.  This proprietary material can be printed or coated inexpensively onto flexible substrates using roll-to-roll manufacturing, similar to the way newspaper is printed on large rolls of paper.  The resulting Power Plastic can then be manufactured into a wide range of end-use products.

Power Plastic is thin, light-weight and flexible

Power Plastic is comprised of several thin layers:  a photo-reactive printed layer, a transparent electrode layer, a plastic substrate and a protective packaging layer. Power Plastic can be manufactured up to 60” wide in virtually any length – and panels can be combined for greater power output.