When people think about tin and the energy transition, solar cells are not usually the first application that comes to mind. Yet one US company is demonstrating how advanced tin-based materials could help enable next-generation solar technologies while opening the door to entirely new markets for tin.
Kentucky-based Sofab Inks has developed a proprietary tin oxide (SnO₂) nanoparticle ink for use in perovskite solar cells. Perovskites have attracted significant attention in recent years due to their high efficiencies and potential for lower manufacturing costs than conventional silicon photovoltaics. However, translating laboratory-scale breakthroughs into commercially viable products remains one of the industry’s greatest challenges.
Sofab’s solution is a solvent-based tin oxide ink containing nanoparticles as small as five nanometres. Within perovskite solar cells, these materials act as electron transport layers, helping move electrical charge efficiently through the device while remaining compatible with large-scale manufacturing processes.
Tin oxide is uniquely well suited for perovskite solar cells because it combines favorable energy alignment, high conductivity, chemical and photostability, and low-temperature solution processability, offering significant advantages over alternative metal oxides such as titanium oxide and zinc oxide.
The technology has already achieved notable recognition, contributing to large-area perovskite solar modules that have reported efficiencies exceeding 22%.
While the solar opportunity alone is significant, the broader implications for tin may be even more exciting.
The company is now exploring how its ultra-fine tin oxide materials could be applied across a range of emerging technologies. Tin oxide is already used in areas including catalysis, water treatment, carbon capture and utilisation (CCUS), batteries, sensors, and advanced electronic materials. Early studies suggest Sofab’s high-surface-area nanoparticles may offer performance advantages in catalytic applications, where surface chemistry and material activity are critical.
For the tin industry, developments such as these highlight an important trend. Traditional markets such as solder and tinplate will continue to underpin global tin demand, but future growth may increasingly come from specialised, high-value applications where performance, functionality, and innovation drive adoption. Advanced materials, functional coatings, catalysts, and clean energy technologies are creating new opportunities for tin to contribute to a more sustainable future.
As perovskite solar cells move closer to commercial reality and new applications continue to emerge, companies such as Sofab Inks demonstrate how innovation can expand the role of tin far beyond its traditional uses. What begins as a material solution for solar energy today could help unlock entirely new technologies and markets tomorrow.
Sofab Inks is actively seeking collaborators interested in evaluating its tin oxide nanoparticle technology for new applications, joint development projects, and commercial partnerships. To explore potential opportunities, contact Jack Manzella at [email protected].
