High‐efficiency CIGS submodules

Abstract

The approaches and achievements in the development of high‐efficiency CuInGaSe2 (CIGS) monolithically integrated submodules will be reported. Two types of techniques, the conventional (batch‐process) and the in‐line three‐stage evaporation techniques, have been employed to deposit high‐quality CIGS absorbers on 10 × 10‐cm Mo/soda lime glass substrates. CIGS films deposited by both the conventional and the in‐line evaporation techniques showed an in‐depth compositional grading of In and Ga (referred as the double graded bandgap) which is a fingerprint of the three‐stage evaporation process. The optimization of the integration processes such as mechanical scribing, as well as the improvement in electrical and optical properties of ZnO window layers, made possible the demonstration of high‐efficency CIGS submodules with efficiencies as high as η = 16.6% (aperture area: 67.2 cm2) and η = 15.8% (aperture area: 76.5 cm2) for the conventional and the in‐line evaporation process, respectively. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Photocurrent multiplication in Ga2O3/CuInGaSe2 heterojunction photosensors

“…We have been investigating Cu(In,Ga)Se 2 (CIGS) thin films for the photoconversion layer [4]. CIGS thin films have been developed for high-efficiency solar cells [7][8][9]. CIGS offers high quantum efficiency and has a high optical absorption coefficient (∼10 5 cm −1 ) throughout the entire visible light region [10,11].…”

Multi-Material Front Contact for 19% Thin Film Solar Cells

“…Naturally, a TCO with a lower sheet resistance allows for longer cells. However, as a lower sheet resistance goes together with a lower TCO transmittance [ 23 , 24 ], as shown in Figure 3 , there is a trade-off and as is obvious from Figure 4 a, different TCO sheet resistance have a different optimal cell length. A TCO sheet resistance of 5 Ω/sq has a long optimal cell length, but as the transmittance TCO is substantially lower than that of 10 Ω/sq, the efficiency drops from 16.9 % to 16.2%.…”

Nanoconfined Solvothermal Synthesis and Characterization of Ultrafine Cu2NiSnS4 Nanotubes

“…All reagents are analytical grade and used without further purification. Anhydrous CuCl 2 ·2 H 2 (3 mmol) were added to af lask in air before anhydrous ethylenediamine (16 mL) added and the reaction mixture was stirred. Next, the AAO template was added to the flask and immersed below the surface of the liquid.…”

“…[1] Among various copper-based chalcopyrites olar cell absorber materials, Cu(In)Se 2 and Cu(Ga)Se 2 have been the most successful because of its high power conversion efficiency( 20.3 %) and good stability. [2][3][4] However,t he limited supply and increasing price of rare metals, including In and Ga, have triggered an eed to find alternative materials for solar cells with high abundance and low cost. Cu 2 NiSnS 4 is ac opper-based quaternary chalcopyrite semiconductor and has attracted attention in recent years because it is among the promising low-cost alternatives to conventionalsolar cell materials.…”