Ceramic tiles with photovoltaic properties

• Keywords: Building energy efficiency, Renewable energy resources, Photovoltaic effect, Ventilated facades, Thin ceramic tiles

The themes of environmental quality and energy saving are concerning even more housing spaces. Ceramic building materials, therefore, cannot ignore the new challenges imposed by current building standards and by market request and must develop new solutions to limit pollutant emission and building energy consumption.

Ceramic tiles, in particular thin ceramic tiles, have been often used for ventilated facades that are opaque outdoor facades, having an external covering made of several elements Ventilated facades are protective or decorative surfaces applied as an external layer to the vertical perimeter walls of buildings. The facades are anchored to the walls of the building with fixing devices and supports, leaving a space between the facade and the wall to assures external insulation. This system allows to achieve interesting and real benefits in terms of thermal and acoustic comfort, safety and facade maintenance.

One of the lines of research of Centro Ceramico regards the development of a “photovoltaic surface”, instead of a conventional tile glazing, for the realization of ceramic tiles that work as photovoltaic modulus for building coverings.

This idea is different from other attempts made by other companies, because the system is realised directly on ceramic tile that, therefore, represents an essential part of the system.
A sequence of layers is deposited on tile surface to obtain photovoltaic layers, electrical contacts and protective insulating layer. In this way the ceramic tile system can be used as a device able to generate electricity by photovoltaic effect.

The research and development activity allowed to produce some laboratory prototypes following two main directions:

• scaling up the photoactive area (achieved dimensional size of photovoltaic ceramic tiles: 30×30 cm)
• testing photovoltaic modulus outdoor and comparing them with conventional modulus.

Regarding the phase of industrialization, together with industrial partners, Centro Ceramico is completing the assembly of the pilot line for the manufacturing of this new generation of photovoltaic tiles for ventilated facades.

Main Scientific Papers

1. A. Salomoni, S. Fazio, B. Mazzanti, M. Bignozzi: “Ceramic tiles functionalised by photovoltaic cells” – Ceramics for Energy CEN2015 – International Workshop, 14-15 Maggio 2015, Faenza (Italy)
2. A. Salomoni, P. Andreotti, S. Dei Svaldi: “Il fotone nella piastrella” – Qualenergia, X, n. 4, 21-23, 2012
3. B. Mazzanti, S. Fazio, A. Salomoni, S. Dei Svaldi, C. Zevi, G. Rotunno: “External building facades using photovoltaic ceramic tiles” – InterCeram: International Ceramic Review, 57, n. 5, p 335-341, 2008
4. S. Fazio, B. Mazzanti, G. Ridolfi ,A. Salomoni, I. Stamenkovic. Ceramic Tiles Surface Functionalisation by Photovoltaic Cells. 10ª edición Qualicer. 10 – 13 febrero 2008 Castellón (España).
5. D. Iencinella, E. Centurioni, M.G. Busana, A. Salomoni, A. Fregni, S. Fazio, B. Mazzanti. Deep integration of photovoltaic on porcelain stoneware tiles for the built environment. 22nd European Photovoltaic Solar Energy Conference and Exhibition – Milano 3-7 September 2007
6. B. Mazzanti, S. Fazio, A. Salomoni. Effects of composition and application parameters of glaze frits on Ag-glass interface characteristics. 10th International Conference and Exhibition of the European Ceramic Society. June 17 – 21, 2007, Berlin
7. E. Rastelli, A. Salomoni, C. Chiva , S. Fazio. Influenza della concentrazione di solvente sulle caratteristiche reologiche di paste serigrafiche conduttive a base di argento. IX Convegno Nazionale di Reologia – Tropea VV (Italia) 20 – 23 settembre 2006.
8. D. Iencinella, E. Centurioni, A. Salomoni, B. Mazzanti, M.G. Busana, A. Fregni, S. Fazio. Solar cells on porcelain stoneware tiles. 21st European Photovoltaic Solar Energy Conference and Exhibition – Dresden 4-8 September 2006.

Contacts:

• Eng. Barbara Mazzanti: mazzanti@centroceramico.it
  Direct phone number: +39 051 0250195

• Dr. Elisa Rambaldi: rambaldi@centroceramico.it
  Direct phone number: +39 051 0250119