ISOLDE Seminar

CIGS thin-film solar cells

by Dr Wolfram Witte (Zentrum für Sonnenenergie- und Wasserstoff-Forschung Baden-Württemberg (ZSW))

Europe/Zurich
26-1-022 (CERN)

26-1-022

CERN

Description

In recent years Cu(In,Ga)Se2 (CIGS) thin-film solar modules have become industrially established as an alternative to silicon-based solar modules. The CIGS technology is mature and the worldwide production is now in the GWp/year range. CIGS solar cells with a current record conversion efficiency of 20.8% for small-area cells have the highest demonstrated efficiency of all thin-film techniques (amorphous and micro-crystalline silicon as well as CdTe).
The focus of this presentation is on the properties of the material system Cu-In-Ga-Se, CIGS cell and module fabrication as well on physical properties of individual layers in a CIGS solar cell stack. The importance of interface design will be discussed. An outlook on alternative materials and production processes, which are in the focus of current research, will be presented.