Currently, the main products in the solar cell market are monocrystalline silicon and polycrystalline silicon solar cells, accounting for more than 80% of the total market. Due to the high cost and high pollution of crystalline silicon cells during production, thin-film solar cells, which are cheaper and have a more environmentally friendly production process, have experienced rapid development.
Currently, there are three types of thin-film solar cells with promising market prospects: amorphous silicon, cadmium telluride (CdTe), and copper indium gallium selenide (CuInGaSe2, commonly referred to as CIGS) thin-film solar cells. As a direct bandgap compound semiconductor, the absorption coefficient of the copper indium gallium selenide absorber layer is as high as 105 cm⁻¹, and its conversion efficiency is the highest among all thin-film solar cells. It has become one of the research hotspots in the global photovoltaic field and is poised to become a new generation of competitive commercial thin-film solar cells.
Features of copper indium gallium selenide thin-film solar cells
Copper indium gallium selenide (CIGS) thin-film solar cells are characterized by low production cost, low pollution, no degradation, and excellent performance in low light conditions. Their photoelectric conversion efficiency ranks first among various thin-film solar cells, approaching that of crystalline silicon solar cells, while their cost is only one-third that of crystalline silicon cells. Internationally, they are hailed as a "very promising new type of thin-film solar cell for the next generation." Furthermore, CIGS thin-film solar cells have a soft, uniform black appearance, making them ideal for applications with high aesthetic requirements, such as glass curtain walls of large buildings, and they have a significant market potential in modern high-rise buildings and other fields.
Manufacturing of copper indium gallium selenide (CIGS) solar panels
Copper indium gallium selenide (CIGS) thin-film solar cell pre-layers were prepared using an alternating sputtering method. A variable duty cycle power controller was used to control the sputtering time of the Cu/Ga alloy target and the In target, thereby controlling the final elemental composition. Experiments showed that within a sputtering cycle, the sputtering time of the Cu/Ga alloy target had the greatest impact on the final composition, followed by the sputtering time of the In target. The length of the non-sputtering time also affected the composition. XRD analysis of the CIGS pre-layers prepared by alternating sputtering revealed that the main alloy phase was Cu11In9.
CIGSSe thin-film solar cells produced through the process of "sputtered metal prefabrication and reselenization/sulfidation" are the world's most technologically advanced and industrially mature second-generation photovoltaic products. CIGSSe thin films are direct bandgap compound semiconductor materials composed of metal elements such as copper, indium, and selenium. They possess the highest absorption coefficient for visible light among all thin-film battery materials, while consuming far less raw materials than traditional crystalline silicon solar cells. Compared to high-efficiency, high-cost crystalline silicon solar cells and low-efficiency, low-cost amorphous silicon solar cells, CIGSSe solar cells offer multiple advantages, including high efficiency, low cost, and long lifespan. They are the most promising high-efficiency thin-film solar cells for reducing the cost of photovoltaic power generation. Furthermore, they can fully utilize my country's abundant indium resources, making them a truly suitable renewable energy technology that complies with national regulations and has broad development prospects.
Applications of copper indium gallium selenide solar panels
Copper indium gallium selenide (CIGS) thin-film solar cells boast the highest photoelectric conversion efficiency among various thin-film solar cells, approaching that of crystalline silicon solar cells, while their cost is only one-third that of crystalline silicon cells. Internationally, they are hailed as "a very promising new type of thin-film solar cell for the next generation." Furthermore, these cells possess a soft, uniform black appearance, making them ideal for applications with high aesthetic requirements, such as glass curtain walls of large buildings, and they have a significant market potential in modern high-rise buildings and other fields.
