Progress in thin film CIGS photovoltaics – Research and development, manufacturing, and applications

TLDR

The transfer of laboratory record‑high efficiency CIGS cells to industrial production faces obvious challenges, as reflected in the reported efficiency values. This review summarizes the current status of CIGS thin‑film solar cell technology, focusing on recent advancements and emerging concepts for higher efficiency and novel applications. The review examines recent laboratory and industrial developments, emphasizing alkali post‑deposition treatment, composition grading, surface passivation, buffer and transparent contact layers, and discusses flexible and lightweight CIGS module opportunities. Encouraging results have been achieved for CIGS‑based tandem solar cells and for improved low‑light device performance. © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Abstract

Abstract This review summarizes the current status of Cu(In,Ga)(S,Se) 2 (CIGS) thin film solar cell technology with a focus on recent advancements and emerging concepts intended for higher efficiency and novel applications. The recent developments and trends of research in laboratories and industrial achievements communicated within the last years are reviewed, and the major developments linked to alkali post deposition treatment and composition grading in CIGS, surface passivation, buffer, and transparent contact layers are emphasized. Encouraging results have been achieved for CIGS‐based tandem solar cells and for improvement in low light device performance. Challenges of technology transfer of lab's record high efficiency cells to average industrial production are obvious from the reported efficiency values. One section is dedicated to development and opportunities offered by flexible and lightweight CIGS modules. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.