Title:	High-Performance CIGS Solar Cells on Low-Cost Low Carbon Steel
Author(s):	M. van der Vleuten, P. Ganesan, J. Wijenberg, R. Aninat, M. Simor
Keywords:	Electrodeposition, CIGS, Flexible Substrate
Topic:	Evolving and Emerging Technologies: Tandems; Thin Film absorbers; III-V; New Materials and Concepts; Advanced Modelling
Subtopic:	CI(G)S, CdTe and Related Thin Films; Organic and Dye-Sensitised Devices
Event:	8th World Conference on Photovoltaic Energy Conversion
Session:	2DO.7.2
ISBN:	3-936338-86-8
Price:	0,00 EUR
Document(s):	presentation

Abstract/Summary:

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TNO and Tata Steel have investigated the use of low-cost low carbon steel foils as a substrate for high efficiency CIGS. To tackle this challenge, the following steps were addressed: a) deposition of a low cost iron-diffusion barrier to avoid CIGS absorber contamination b) smoothening of the steel surface to prevent pinholes and c) cost-effective alkali doping for optimum performance. Tata Steel, one of the largest steel companies in the world, developed and optimized, with the feedback of TNO, a cost-effective electro-deposited iron-diffusion barrier layer. TNO then sputtered Mo:Na and Mo:K interlayers as part of the back electrode stack, and deposited co-evaporated CIGS on top, thus sourcing the necessary alkali elements from the back electrode.17.9% cell efficiency was achieved, surpassing the quality of the reference samples on glass substrates. The performance improvement was uniform, showing the quality and uniformity of the Tata Steel substrates and electrodeposited barrier.