Feb 14 2011
Researchers at the INM-Leibniz Institute for New Materials have been able to develop a barrier layer that would separate the metal carrier from the absorber film, leading to increased efficiency for the CIGS Solar Cells, which are metal- based.
The INM Program Division named Optical Materials is to present this development for the first time at the Nano Tech 2011, an International Trade Fairand also at the Hannover Messe 2011 for the entire nation.
The low efficiency rates of the CIGS solar cells are mainly because of the corrosion and poor isolation found between the substrate and carrier material used. Solar Cells contain Indium (I), Copper (Cu), Sulphur (S) and Gallium (G). Glass is normally used as the carrier material. The low efficiency rates hamper the application of these solar cells in industries such as the automotive industry. According to Peter William de Oliveira, Program Division Head, the developed layer, which is glass like, operates as an iron diffusion barrier and helps to prevent corrosion and oxidation in the carrier. He also revealed that the barrier acts as an insulating layer and decreases passage of inadvertent electrical currents from passing from the absorber to the carrier. This would increase the CIGS solar cells efficiency by 13%.
This diffusion barrier, which resembles glass is applied on the metal carrier by using the sol-gel process and is flexible, transparent. Its thickness is just a few micrometers. The scientists at the INM have created both the up-scaled process and the layer. They produced foils in a DIN A3 size through slot coating and dip coating. The conventional roll-to-roll printing process permits the production of 50 m continuous layered foils with a width of half a meter.
The Nano Tech 2011 is to showcase this diffusion barrier in the CIGS solar cells along with other applications developed by the INM. These include coatings that contain special properties such as anti-adhesive, transparent conductivity, self-cleaning function, anti-reflective, scratchproof or layers for corrosion protection or friction reduction properties. INM also includes Multifunctional coatings, which are a mix of these properties in their portfolio. It would be exhibiting all these products at the German Pavilion in Tokyo from the 16th to the 18th in the month of February.
INM would also be exhibiting its competencies and skills at the Hannover Messe, which is the leading trade fair for Research and Technology. Its presence would be felt at the Booth A-50, Hall 2. The INM based at Saarbrücken in Germany focuses mainly on chemical synthesis, coatings, physical analysis of surfaces and interfacial materials.
Source: http://www.inm-gmbh.de/