Precision Thin-Film
Deposition Platform
Primary application: Nanosolar Tile — transparent perovskite solar film for building-integrated photovoltaics
$20k–$150k commercial systems
full tool exchange cycles
channel count expands with application
A Purpose-Built Deposition System
The Rister platform is a precision multi-channel liquid handling and deposition system engineered for multi-material thin-film fabrication on flexible substrates. Developed in-house at HTS Resources, it delivers capabilities comparable to commercial dispensing systems costing $20,000–$150,000 — at a fraction of the price, and purpose-built for the specific demands of flexible substrate work in controlled atmospheres.
Existing commercial dispensing platforms are designed for rigid substrates, single-material workflows, and controlled manufacturing environments. The Rister platform was designed from the ground up for multi-material, multi-layer deposition on flexible film substrates — the configuration required for next-generation thin-film devices.
What Makes It Different
- Purpose-engineered for flexible substrate deposition — not adapted from a rigid-substrate platform
- Scalable multi-channel architecture — each tool head supports multiple independent dispensing channels (up to 8 demonstrated per tool), with multiple tools loadable per run. Total channel count expands with the application
- Multi-material in a single run — dedicated tool heads per ink chemistry enable sequential or parallel deposition without substrate removal, making larger tile sizes and faster throughput practical
- Near-zero cost to scale — syringe pumps, valves, and tool bodies are fabricated in-house on the same platform. Adding channels means printing more hardware, not purchasing expensive proprietary components
- Heated dispensing at 60°C with PTFE-lined fluid paths — compatible with high-viscosity and temperature-sensitive inks
- Integrated camera inspection with fiducial-based referencing — sub-millimeter accuracy maintained across tool exchanges
- Designed for N₂ and controlled atmosphere environments — required for air-sensitive material systems
- Compact and portable — the complete system can be transported and operated at external facilities
Platform Capabilities
The platform's core capabilities address a broad range of thin-film deposition applications requiring precise, multi-material, multi-layer workflows on flexible substrates.
Adjacent Application Areas
While perovskite BIPV is the current focus, the platform's capabilities apply directly to other thin-film deposition workflows:
Toolchanger Platform
The Rister toolchanger is a purpose-built motion control and dispensing platform running proven open-motion-control firmware. Each tool head is a self-contained dispensing unit with printed syringe pumps and servo-actuated valves — all fabricated in-house. Tool heads support multiple channels (up to 8 demonstrated), and multiple tools can be loaded per run. All mechanical and fluid components are documented in the hardware repository.
Specialized Tool Heads
Liquid Handling Tool
Multi-channel heated pipette tool at 60°C. PTFE tubing (1.5mm ID), removable polypropylene tips, 150 µm nozzles. Syringe pumps and servo-controlled valves are printed in-house — channels scale by printing additional hardware. Pipette load/unload supported for prototyping; dedicated tool heads used for production throughput.
UV Curing Tool
In-situ UV curing for layer stabilization and encapsulant crosslinking at ambient pressure.
Camera Inspection Tool
Raspberry Pi 5 with autofocus camera. Real-time QC, fiducial-based absolute referencing, sub-millimeter positional verification across tool swaps.
Video Demonstrations — Tool Loading & Pipette Handling
Pressure Control System
Stable, repeatable pressure at the pipette tip is the core challenge in precision ink deposition. The system uses multi-stage pressure management to prevent dripping, air entrainment, and meniscus instability across the full deposition cycle.
- Pressure compensation reservoir — liquid level sensor triggers automatic peristaltic refill
- Stepper-driven syringe pump with servo-controlled 3-way valve: Input / Output / Pipette / Bypass positions
- Sub-nanoliter accuracy — 1–10 µL aspiration at 1 µL/s; multiple cycles enable sub-nL delivery
- Automated cleaning loop — IPA flush, exterior wash, and waste evacuation in a closed-loop process
- Dynamic nozzle swapping — 10G–34G (0.26–2.69 mm) for control over line width and flow across different ink viscosities
Fluid Management System Diagrams
Figure 1 — Single syringe pump: pressure compensation reservoir, 3-way valve positions, and automated cleaning.
Figure 2 — Multichannel configuration (4 syringes) with valves, gantry frame, peristaltic pumps, and waste/wash stations.
Control Architecture
Two purpose-built web applications replace static G-code macros with a visual, integrated control environment for the full fabrication workflow.
Printer Designer
Array Management System
| Method | Endpoint | Description |
|---|---|---|
| GET | /api/samples | List all samples |
| POST | /api/samples | Create a new sample |
| GET | /api/samples/:id | Get sample details |
| PATCH | /api/samples/:id/status | Update sample status |
| POST | /api/arrays/create | Create array grid |
Nanosolar Tile
Nanosolar Tile is the platform's primary development application — a thin, flexible transparent perovskite solar film that turns existing windows and building facades into distributed power generation surfaces.
Transparent window-attached perovskite solar film — visible light passes through while sunlight is converted to electricity.
to electricity
passes through
no cleanroom required
cost at scale
Visually indistinguishable from lightly tinted architectural glass. Retrofit-compatible — applies to existing windows without structural modification.
Top-down PV fabrication process flow — substrate preparation through encapsulation on flexible ITO-PET.
Why Perovskite on This Platform
- Line-array architecture — interdigitated patterning achieves both high transparency and usable photovoltaic output simultaneously
- Ambient-pressure processing — full stack deposited at ≤100°C, eliminating vacuum deposition requirements
- Multi-material in sequence — hole transport, absorber, and electron transport layers deposited in a single substrate-loaded run
The BIPV Opportunity
California's commercial buildings consume over 40% of the state's electricity. Current transparent solar film options are either too expensive to manufacture or require cleanroom infrastructure inaccessible to small developers — creating a gap that the Nanosolar Tile addresses directly.
Low-cost printable perovskite film changes the economics of building-integrated solar — making distributed generation viable on existing commercial glazing at under $15/m².
- Reduces peak demand by generating power at the point of consumption
- Lowers transmission losses through distributed generation on existing building envelopes
- Enables daylighting credits while generating clean energy on-site
- Retrofit-compatible — no structural modification required
Validated Milestones
- Aspiration and dispensing of mimic inks validated with 25G pipettes — tunable line width, volume, and flow rate confirmed
- Multi-material toolchanger validated: full load/unload cycles mid-fabrication without coordinate loss
- 3-drop precision array confirmed sub-millimeter placement accuracy through complete tool exchange workflow
- Camera fiducial referencing and tool-offset measurement implemented and tested
- Printer Designer integrated end-to-end: layout → dispenser config → G-code → execution
Mimic Ink Validation Approach
All hardware and process development uses rheology-matched proxy inks before transitioning to actual perovskite precursors. Mimic inks (water + xanthan gum at varying concentrations) match the flow characteristics of perovskite precursor inks and can be dispensed with 34G needles at room temperature — enabling full process validation without hazardous material handling.
Proxy ink formulations matched to target perovskite ink viscosities for hardware and process validation.
Precision Assessment: 3-drop array with reference markers
Three drops placed within pen-marked target zones after full camera toolchange + liquid handler reload + pipette loading sequence.
7-Step PV Process Flow
Complete transparent PV fabrication on flexible ITO-PET substrates in a controlled N₂ environment — all steps executed on the Rister platform at ≤100°C:
UV-Ozone Cleaning
ITO-PET surface activation. 185 nm + 254 nm, 12–15 min. Target contact angle: <10°.
PEDOT:PSS Deposition
Hole transport layer. Printed onto activated ITO surface. Anneal 120°C / 20 min.
Perovskite Printing
FASnI₃ line-array deposition. N₂ atmosphere, 60°C heated pipette, 150 µm nozzle. Anneal 100°C / 10 min.
Electron Transport Layer
PCBM / SnO₂ deposition for charge extraction.
Electrode Formation
Silver nanowire or carbon-based top contact deposition.
Barrier Coating
UV-crosslinked encapsulant protecting perovskite from moisture and oxygen.
Encapsulation
Final lamination for mechanical and environmental protection.
Two-Horizon Strategy
Development is staged: validate the platform in a technically demanding real-world application first, then expand into adjacent markets from a position of demonstrated capability.
Development Roadmap
UV-ozone activation validated; PEDOT:PSS deposition trials begin on ITO-PET substrates
Lab partnership for perovskite characterization; sunlight conversion efficiency and transmittance measured
First commercial pilot — Southern California BIPV retrofit partner; <$15/m² cost target validated
Platform expansion into adjacent deposition applications — contingent on Horizon 1 performance
Immediate Priorities
Get Involved
Seeking lab partnerships, accelerator programs, and early-stage investors aligned with advanced manufacturing, thin-film materials, and California energy goals. Also open to conversations with research institutions interested in applying the platform to new materials applications.