Sakata INX and Sofab Collaborate on Inkjet-Printable Perovskite Solar Cell Ink

SAKATA INX CORPORATION is collaborating with Sofab Inks, Inc., a Kentucky-based developer of perovskite solar cell materials, to develop an inkjet-printable electron transport layer (ETL) ink. The ink combines Sofab's tin oxide (SnO₂)-based ETL materials with SAKATA INX's nano-dispersion, ink formulation and thin-film technologies. The ink is designed to reduce damage to the perovskite layer and can be applied to single-junction and tandem perovskite cells. The companies plan to present the product under development at the Sofab booth at the Perovskite Connect Conference in Berlin on October 21 and 22, 2026.

Key facts

Market context

Perovskite solar cells are a next-generation photovoltaic technology valued for high light-to-electricity conversion efficiency and the potential for low-cost, solution-based manufacturing. A typical cell stacks several thin functional layers, and the electron transport layer carries negative charge carriers from the light-absorbing perovskite to the electrode. Tin oxide is widely studied for this role because it offers good electron mobility and can be processed at relatively low temperatures. Demand for such materials ties to the broader solar energy market, including utility-scale and rooftop installations, and to tandem designs that pair perovskites with silicon to push efficiency higher. Inkjet printing is attractive to manufacturers because it deposits material only where needed, which can reduce waste and allow patterning over larger areas. Ink suppliers that bring formulation and dispersion expertise can become important partners as producers move from laboratory cells toward commercial lines, though the technology remains at an early stage of industrial adoption.

Source: official release on inx.co.jp. Summary and context written by Market Krystal.