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Highly efficient Cu(In,Ga)Se2 solar cells grown on flexible polymer films
Nature Materials
|September 20, 2011
Summary
Flexible solar cells using copper indium gallium selenide (CIS) absorbers can now achieve high efficiencies. Adjusting the absorber
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Photovoltaics
- Thin-film technologies
Background:
- Polycrystalline copper indium gallium selenide (CIS) solar cells offer high conversion efficiencies.
- Flexible polymer substrates reduce manufacturing costs but historically yield lower efficiencies due to lower deposition temperatures.
- Achieving comparable performance between flexible and rigid substrates is crucial for cost-competitiveness.
Discussion:
- Inferior performance on flexible substrates is attributed to a strong composition gradient within the absorber layer.
- This gradient arises from lower substrate temperatures during deposition.
- Optimizing the composition gradient is key to overcoming efficiency limitations.
Key Insights:
- A strong composition gradient in the absorber layer is identified as the primary cause of reduced efficiency in flexible solar cells.
- By carefully controlling and adjusting this gradient, high conversion efficiencies can be achieved.
- This finding bridges the performance gap between flexible and rigid thin-film solar cells.
Outlook:
- Manufacturing highly efficient flexible solar cells is now feasible.
- This advancement could significantly lower the cost of solar electricity.
- Flexible photovoltaic technology is poised to become a major industry sector.
