Background
CIGS (copper-indium-gallium-selenium) thin-film solar cells have garnered significant interest for specific applications like building-integrated photovoltaics (BIPV) due to their high efficiency, flexibility, and aesthetic integration capabilities. Perovskite solar cells, conversely, are hailed as a ‘game-changer’ in the photovoltaic landscape, promising high efficiencies that could potentially surpass silicon, coupled with low-cost manufacturing potential. The development of CIGS-perovskite tandem technology seeks to synergize the strengths of both, paving the way for ultra-high power conversion efficiencies beyond the reach of single-junction cells. This new 25.5% record not only pushes the boundaries of thin-film technology but also begins to challenge the performance benchmarks set by conventional silicon solar cells, reinforcing Germany’s leadership in renewable energy innovation.
Key Findings
A collaborative research team from Humboldt University and Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin (HZB) in Germany has officially set a new world record for power conversion efficiency in a CIGS-perovskite tandem solar cell, reaching an unprecedented 25.5%. This landmark achievement, which combines a CIGS thin-film solar cell with a perovskite solar cell, has been rigorously certified by the esteemed Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems ISE and is now featured in the globally recognized ‘Solar Cell Efficiency Tables’.
Technical Details
This groundbreaking efficiency record stems from highly optimized interface engineering, critical for the seamless integration of the CIGS semiconductor layer with the perovskite layer. The research team meticulously designed CIGS cells incorporating aluminum-doped zinc oxide (AZO) layers of precise thicknesses. Additionally, they refined a sophisticated combination of nickel oxide (NiOₓ) and self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) at the interfaces. This meticulous optimization was crucial for minimizing efficiency losses, ensuring maximal charge carrier transport, and reducing recombination losses between the constituent layers. The tandem cell, measured on an active area of 1.081 cm², delivered a certified efficiency of 25.5%, underscoring its practical performance. Conducted under the auspices of the EU-funded SOLMATES project, this research indicates a potential for future efficiencies to reach up to 27.5%, with current mini-modules already demonstrating approximately 19.7% efficiency.
Strategic Significance and Outlook
The attainment of this world record represents a pivotal advancement towards the commercialization of CIGS-perovskite tandem solar cell technology. High-efficiency thin-film solar cells are exceptionally well-suited for urban environments, where maximizing power generation from constrained installation areas is paramount, and for specialized applications demanding lightweight and flexible solutions. The research team is now strategically focused on the scalable manufacturing of this technology, tackling challenges associated with mass production, and rigorously improving its long-term reliability and cost-effectiveness. Looking ahead, this tandem technology is poised to play a crucial role in the evolving photovoltaic market, significantly contributing to global climate change mitigation through its enhanced energy conversion efficiency and by broadening the scope of solar power applications.
Source: https://www.adlershof.de/en/news/new-world-record-set-for-the-efficiency-of-a-tandem-solar-cell
Get our weekly technology intelligence — free
Receive an infographic that lets you judge at a glance whether each field’s analysis report is worth reading.
Subscribe Free — Weekly Tech Intelligence
By subscribing, you’ll receive Troy-Technical’s weekly technology intelligence newsletter.
- Your email and selected fields are used only to deliver the newsletter.
- We never share your information with third parties.
- You can unsubscribe anytime via the link in each email.
See our Privacy Policy for details.
Takes about a minute · Unsubscribe anytime
Comments