Contra Vision leveraged CEAMS’ expertise to develop Photovoltaics (PV), which converts sunlight directly into electricity using semiconductor materials.
The challenge
Contra Vision was founded in 1985 by Roland Hill. A keen amateur squash player, he wanted the sport to be more accessible to a larger viewing audience.
The challenge was the opaque walls that surround squash court made the sport unfriendly for spectators.
Roland’s solution was a new one-way vision technology, which enabled colours and graphics to be visible from one side of the glass, while retaining unobstructed see-through from the other side.
Today Stockport-headquartered Contra Vision is a global expert in the design and production of one-way vision window film.
The company’s technology transforms glass into opportunities for advertising, branding, privacy, solar shading and decorative architectural features - without obstructing the view from the other side.
Contra Vision operates in numerous countries, serving both large enterprises and SMEs.
Contra Vision wanted to develop Photovoltaics (PV), which converts sunlight directly into electricity using semiconductor materials, and approached CEAMS for help.
The solution
The University of Manchester, in collaboration with Contra Vision, conducted advanced research on the encapsulation of organic photovoltaics (OPVs) to enhance their durability and performance. The project focused on trialing and optimising two encapsulation routes: a barrier film-based method and a solution-processed method. Key outputs include assessing the barrier properties, particularly water vapour transmission rates, and testing the solar cell performance before and after encapsulation. Additionally, the study evaluated the transmission properties of the encapsulation films and subjected the OPVs to rigorous stress testing, including mechanical stress, environmental ageing, and weathering.
The research aimed to determine the feasibility of manufacturing robust OPVs and improve their longevity and efficiency under real-world conditions.
It involved using different material types to create a product that can be easily installed by customers. A significant part of the project is the encapsulation of special materials to protect the photovoltaic structure from moisture and degradation.
The impact
By partaking in the CEAMS project and having access to material specialists, Contra Vision have been able to reduce development times and costs to bring of products to market.
It has also opened up a new market of Building-Integrated Photovoltaics (BIPV), which is a growing market in the PV sector.
