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IIT Kanpur scientists use inkjet printers to ‘print’ organic solar cells

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8 years ago

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IIT Kanpur

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]By Namrata Dave

Researchers at the Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur have used technique of inkjet printing to print thin nickel oxide films to make organic solar cells.

Organic solar cells contain carbon-based and light-absorbing materials that can convert solar energy to electricity. When a photon of light falls on an organic solar cell, its energy is absorbed by an electron of the light-absorbing material. With this energy, the electron is able to jump to a higher energy state. Due to this jump, a ‘hole’ is left back in the place where the electron earlier was. However, strong forces of attraction bind the electron and hole together, and current can only flow through the cell if the negatively charged electron and positively charged hole are separated and directed to different electrodes. This separation is achieved by an electron transporting layer and a hole transporting layer respectively. These layers are very thin films of compounds which are deposited on either side of the light absorbing material.

components of an organic solar cell

components of an organic solar cell

Nickel Oxide (NiO) demonstrates properties that are ideal for use as a hole transporting layer, but previous studies have shown that it has been a challenge to prepare thin NiO films on a large scale.

In their study, published in journal Scientific Reports, researchers from IIT Kanpur have attempted to overcome this roadblock by using the technique of inkjet printing. In inkjet printing of NiO films, the ‘ink’ is NiO and the ‘paper’ is a substrate of glass coated with a material that serves as the positive electrode. By testing various experimental conditions, the researchers were able to prepare uniform, smooth NiO films as thin as 18 nanometres by using NiO ink having drops of a specific size, and by providing the substrate with a UV-Ozone treatment prior to printing.

It is important for the hole transporting layer to be as transparent as possible to ensure that maximum light goes through to the light absorbing material. The researchers found that the inkjet-printed NiO film showed different degrees of transparency at different temperatures, and was able to transmit a maximum of 89% of the light falling on it, by thermally treating the film at 400 ºC.

The next part of this study was to test the performance of this inkjet-printed NiO film in an organic solar cell device. In such a device,the hole transporting layer must bond well with the light absorbing material to provide a smooth passage for the positively charged ‘holes’ of the material to reach an electrode. For this, they chemically and thermally treated the NiO film, and were able to drastically improve the conversion efficiency of the device from 0.75% to 2.67%.

NiO films can also be prepared by another technique known as ‘spin coating’, but this technique is not suitable for large scale production and a lot of raw material is wasted. This study shows that structurally and chemically identical NiO films can be easily manufactured on a large scale at a low cost by using the technique of inkjet printing.

This research team included Arjun Singh, Shailendra Kumar Gupta and Ashish Garg from Department of Materials Science and Engineering at the Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur. (India Science Wire)[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

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Samsung Galaxy S25 FE India price leak suggests launch similar to S24 FE

Samsung Galaxy S25 FE India price has surfaced online, hinting at a similar launch price as the S24 FE. The phone brings a 6.7-inch AMOLED display, Exynos 2400 chip, triple rear cameras, and a 4,900mAh battery.

Published

3 months ago

on

September 11, 2025

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Samsung Galaxy S25 FE, which was unveiled globally on September 4, is yet to receive official pricing for the Indian market. However, a fresh leak indicates that the handset could debut in India at the same price point as its predecessor, the Galaxy S24 FE.

Expected price and availability in India

According to tipster Yogesh Brar, the Samsung Galaxy S25 FE may be priced at ₹59,999 for the base 8GB RAM + 128GB storage variant in India. This matches the launch price of last year’s Galaxy S24 FE, which started at ₹59,999 for the same configuration. The higher 8GB RAM + 256GB model of the S24 FE was earlier priced at ₹65,999.

Globally, the Galaxy S25 FE has been introduced at $650 (around ₹58,000) for the base variant and $710 (around ₹63,000) for the 8GB + 256GB version. In India, the smartphone is expected to go on sale in October, similar to last year’s rollout schedule for the S24 FE.

The phone is offered in Icyblue, Jetblack, Navy, and White colour options.

Key specifications

  • Display: 6.7-inch full-HD+ Dynamic AMOLED 2X, 120Hz refresh rate, 1,900 nits peak brightness, Vision Booster, Gorilla Glass Victus+ protection.
  • Processor: Exynos 2400 SoC.
  • RAM & Storage: 8GB RAM standard, up to 512GB UFS 4.0 storage.
  • Rear Cameras: 50MP wide-angle + 8MP telephoto + 12MP ultrawide; 8K video recording at 30fps.
  • Front Camera: 12MP selfie shooter.
  • Battery: 4,900mAh with 45W wired and 15W wireless charging.
  • Build: 7.4mm thick, 190g weight, IP68-rated water and dust resistance.
  • Cooling: 10% larger vapour chamber compared to the Galaxy S24 FE.

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iPhone 17 series launched in India: Price starts at Rs 82,900, goes up to Rs 2.29 lakh

Apple has launched the iPhone 17 series in India with prices starting at Rs 82,900. Pre-booking begins on 12 September, and the phones will be available from 19 September.

Published

3 months ago

on

September 10, 2025

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iphone 17

Apple has officially launched its much-awaited iPhone 17 series in India, introducing four models – iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Air, iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max. The series comes with advanced features, multiple storage variants, and a starting price of Rs 82,900. Pre-bookings will open from 12 September, while sales begin on 19 September.

iPhone 17 and iPhone 17 Air price in India

The standard iPhone 17 is priced at Rs 82,900 for the 256GB base variant. Meanwhile, the iPhone 17 Air, designed with a slimmer and more premium look, starts at Rs 1,19,900.

Key features of iPhone 17

  • Display: 6.3-inch Super Retina XDR OLED, 120Hz ProMotion, up to 3000 nits brightness with Ceramic Shield 2 protection.
  • Camera: Dual 48MP setup (Fusion main + Ultra Wide) with 2X telephoto capability, along with a new Centre Stage front camera.
  • Performance: Powered by the A19 chipset, runs on iOS 26, 40% faster than iPhone 16.
  • Battery: Up to 8 hours longer backup compared to its predecessor.

iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max price in India

The premium segment begins with iPhone 17 Pro priced at Rs 1,34,900, while the iPhone 17 Pro Max starts at Rs 1,49,900. The top-end Pro Max with the highest storage option goes up to Rs 2,29,900. These models are available in Cosmic Orange, Deep Blue, and Silver colours.

Key features of Pro models

  • Display: iPhone 17 Pro with 6.3-inch and Pro Max with 6.9-inch Super Retina XDR OLED, both featuring 120Hz refresh rate and 3000 nits brightness.
  • Chipset: New A19 Pro with Vapour Chamber Cooling for heavy usage.
  • Camera: Triple 48MP system including an advanced telephoto lens with 8X optical zoom and 40X digital zoom, plus an 18MP front camera.
  • Battery & Charging: Best-ever battery backup on Pro Max, with USB-C fast charging – 50% charge in just 20 minutes.

Why the iPhone 17 series stands out

The new iPhones not only bring improved design and performance but also integrate Apple Intelligence AI features for messaging, calls and visual tools.

Offers and EMI options

  • No-cost EMI: Available for up to 6 months.
  • Cashback: ICICI Bank users can avail up to Rs 5,000 instant cashback.
  • For instance, buying the iPhone 17 Pro Max (Rs 1,49,900) on a 6-month no-cost EMI plan brings effective savings of Rs 11,525, including cashback and EMI benefits.

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Lava Yuva Smart 2 launched in India with 5,000mAh battery and dual cameras

Lava has launched the Yuva Smart 2 in India with a 5,000mAh battery, dual cameras, Android 15 Go Edition, and a price tag of Rs 6,099.

Published

3 months ago

on

September 4, 2025

By

Lava phone

Lava has introduced its latest entry-level smartphone, the Lava Yuva Smart 2, in India. Priced at Rs 6,099, the device offers a large display, a massive battery, and dual cameras, making it a budget-friendly choice for first-time smartphone buyers.

Lava Yuva Smart 2 price and availability

The Yuva Smart 2 is priced at Rs 6,099 for the single 3GB RAM + 64GB storage variant. It will be available in Crystal Blue and Crystal Gold colour options. Lava has announced doorstep service across India, though official sale dates are yet to be disclosed.

Lava Yuva Smart 2 specifications

The smartphone runs on Android 15 Go Edition and is powered by the Unisoc 9863a octa-core chipset. It comes with 3GB RAM (expandable up to 6GB with virtual RAM) and 64GB internal storage.

It features a 6.75-inch HD+ display with a 90Hz refresh rate. For photography, the phone sports a 13MP AI dual rear camera housed in a square module, along with a 5MP front camera for selfies.

Backed by a 5,000mAh battery with 10W wired charging via USB Type-C, the device also includes a side-mounted fingerprint scanner and face unlock support for security.

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