Progress in Photovoltaics Research and Applications · 2002 · 154 citations · 2 references
EngineeringElectrical EngineeringMaterials ScienceSemiconductor DevicesSemiconductor MaterialsThin FilmsPhotovoltaic DevicesPhotovoltaic MaterialsSemiconductor Thin FilmsSolar Cell MaterialsSolar CellsSolar RadiationConcentrator PhotovoltaicsFill FactorPhotovoltaic SystemsSolar Cell FabricationSolar ConcentratorsThin-film Solar CellsVoltage
The study designs CIGS solar cells for operation under mildly concentrated sunlight. The absorber was deposited via a three‑stage evaporation process, and the device structure was modified by reducing the CdS window thickness to boost short‑circuit current at the expense of open‑circuit voltage, resulting in significant increases in voltage and fill factor under optical enhancement. At 14 suns the device achieved 736 mV open‑circuit voltage, 80.5 % fill factor, and 21.5 % efficiency, marking the first polycrystalline thin‑film solar cell to exceed 20 % efficiency. Published in 2002 by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Abstract Cu(In,Ga)Se 2 (CIGS) solar cells have been designed for operation under mildly concentrated sunlight. The absorber was deposited via a three‐stage evaporation process that has consistently yielded high‐performance one‐sun devices. The device structure reported here was modified by reducing the thickness of the CdS window/buffer layer to enhance the short‐circuit current at the expense of the open‐circuit voltage. Operation of the devices under optical enhancement leads to significant increases in the voltage and fill factor. At 14 suns, the open‐circuit voltage for this device was 736 mV, the fill factor was 80.5%, and the efficiency was 21.5%. This result represents the first report of a polycrystalline thin‐film solar cell with an efficiency in excess of 20%. Published in 2002 by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
2