New solar cell performance double

Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin Research Institute (HZB) develops Tadem thin-film photovoltaic cells for energy conversion rates of up to 24.16%.

The new battery combines two CIGS and perovskite semiconductors to convert different components of the light spectrum into electrical energy. While the metal halide perovskite focuses on visible light, the CIGS compound - including copper, indium, gallium and selenium - is capable of converting part of the infrared light that the naked eye cannot see.

CIGS cells can deposit in the form of thin films about 3-4 micrometres (µm). The perovskite layers are even thinner with a thickness of only 0.5 µm. Tadem parallel solar cells thus have a thickness of less than 5 µm, allowing the production of flexible power modules.

Parallel solar cell CIGS - perovskite. (Photo:  HZB).

"This combination also gives light weight and radiation protection, can be applied in the space satellite industry," Professor Dr. Steve Albrecht from HZB, lead researcher, said in JOULE magazine. .

Albrecht and his colleagues directly deposited perovskite onto the CIGS class using a technique developed by the group. They added special molecules, called SAMs , to CIGS semiconductors to form a self-organizing monolayer layer, which helps improve contact between perovskite and CIGS.

The new parallel photovoltaic cell offers energy conversion efficiency of up to 24.16%, which is much higher than the commercially available commercially available energy cells, ranging from 5 to 15%. This value has been certified by the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems (ISE) in Germany.

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