PVcomB

CIGS-Technologies

One of the relevant technologies for thin-film photovoltaics is based on chalcopyrite absorber materials. Following the chemical composition of the most frequently used chalcoyprites, i.e., Cu(In,Ga)Se2 and Cu(In,Ga)(S,Se)2, these materials are also known as CIGS. The advantages of CIGS in terms of production and applications are summarized in the CIGS White Paper. 

The CIGS groups at PVcomB are developing processes for high efficiency and low production costs. We assist our industrial partners in bringing new developments from the laboratory closer to industrial production. A complete range of industry standard processes are available for the preparation of cells and modules. We share many of the standard characterization tools with the other groups at PVcomB, have access to sophisticated analysis tools elsewhere at the HZB, but also operate a dedicated preparation/surface analysis cluster tool.

Angle resolved x-ray emission from a ZnO/CIGSe layer stack – obtaining depth-resolved compositional and chemical information from the layers

Our topics include:

• substrates and back contacts
• CIGS layers grown by multi-source evaporation
• CIGS layers grown from metal precursors by fast atmospheric inline chalocogenization
• Junction formation
• Transparent front contacts
• Monolithic integration, module backend, testing 
• Multi junction solar cells
• Surface and interface analysis