| AVS 56th International Symposium & Exhibition | |
| Thin Film | Thursday Sessions |
| Session TF-ThP |
| Session: | Aspects of Thin Films Poster Session |
| Presenter: | E. Ryabova, NViA |
| Authors: | E. Ryabova, NViA M. Shkolnikov, ADCO-Engineering |
| Correspondent: | Click to Email |
Photovoltaics are in a verge of expansion challenged with the grid parity requirement.
Three generations of solar cell technologies are racing for the better $$/Wp numbers.
c-Si, mc-Si, micromorph, Thin film (CdTe, CIGS), Organic – all use thin film processing in order to create absorber, emitter, light trap-assisting layer, back side field -passivating layer, barriers, metallization, etc.
In order to achieve grid parity ($$/Wp) PV-technology strives to increase Power Conversion Efficiency (PCE) coupled with reduced Cost of Ownership (CoO).
Former is done by minimizing losses -optical and electrical and implies advanced interface engineering.
Later entails low cost material and technology utilization that places verdict on industry trend toward innovative technologies.
Wet chemistry based thin film deposition routing is proposed to replace high vacuum ones for several critical layers, such as ARC, TCO, BSF and surface modification.
This low cost method features:
High deposition rate
High material utilization
Simple equipment capable of very large substrate handling.
Ideal for roll-to-roll operation
Full conformity with complex shape surfaces
Highly uniform films of various compositions with the thickness range 6-600 nm have been deposited using dip coating, slot die and microgravure coating, spray coating.
With the proper surface activation film forms covalent bonds with the substrate and has no interfacial imperfectness.
When used for solar cell fabrication – can add up to couple of percent to PCE compare to traditionally processed cells.
Precursor for the specific layer can be purchased or mixed in-house depends on formulation.
Solution Derived Nanocomposites are already on their way to mass production at many PV-houses with the increasing popularity among large size, flexible substrate, and concentrating solar users.