CIGS absorbers and processes

TLDR

State‑of‑the‑art laboratory CIGS solar cells achieve >20% efficiency, comparable to crystalline Si, and modules are commercially available via co‑evaporation and selenization. The paper reviews the current status, future perspectives, and critical issues for achieving high‑efficiency flexible CIGS solar cells. The authors analyze absorber property requirements and discuss co‑evaporation and selenization processes for high‑efficiency CIGS cells. A novel Na incorporation technique yields flexible CIGS cells with efficiencies comparable to those on soda‑lime glass. © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Abstract

Abstract The current status and future perspectives of Cu(In 1−x Ga x )Se 2 (CIGS) solar cells and modules will be discussed in this paper. The conversion efficiencies of the state of the art laboratory‐scale CIGS solar cells exceeded 20%, which are comparable to those of crystalline Si solar cells. The requirements on the properties of CIGS absorbers to achieve such high efficiencies will be described. The CIGS modules are already commercially available based on two major CIGS deposition techniques such as co‐evaporation and selenization. The current status, problems, and prospects of co‐evaporation and selenization will also be discussed. High‐efficiency flexible CIGS solar cells with efficiencies similar to those fabricated on soda–lime glass (SLG) substrates have been achieved by developing a novel Na incorporation technique. Critical issues to demonstrate high‐efficiency flexible solar cells will also be discussed. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.