CIGS-based thin film solar cells
CIGS is an acronym for Cu(In,Ga)Se2. This semiconductor material is an excellent light absorber and has reached efficiencies of over 20 %. Our research aims to develop CIGS-solar cells with as high efficiency as possible.
CZTS — solar cells from abundant elements
Sometimes solar cells contain rare or expensive elements, for example indium and tellurium. CZTS is an abbreviation of Cu2ZnSn(S,Se)4, a material composed of only abundant and non-toxic elements, which therefore has the advantage of a lower cost and reliable access to material. The purpose with the research is to achieve as high performance as for example solar cells of CIGS and CdTe.
Materials chemistry of CZTS and CIGS absorbers
The many and varied chemical reactions taking place during formation of CZTS or CIGS absorber layers together impart some of the key properties that determine solar cell performance. We investigate reactions occurring in the films and at their surfaces and interfaces during high temperature formation, from both experimental and theoretical standpoints, to develop improved materials and synthetic strategies.
New window layer structures for CIGS/CZTS solar cells
We develop the window layer structure for thin film solar cells based on chalcogenide absorbers like CIGS and CZTS. The effect of changing optical, electrical and structural material properties of the window layer is related to the electrical performance of the solar cell devices.
Plasmon based Ultrathin Photovoltaics
We explore possibilities for effective harvesting of sunlight in layers of only 10 nanometer characteristic thickness. By dramatically reducing the absorber layer thickness to this level, cost and resource savings are enabled along with the possibility for enhanced conversion efficiency of light to electricity. The research thus strives to contribute to the creation of a new class of efficient photovoltaic solar cells based on absorber layers operating near the lower thickness limit, as determined by the governing physics.