Chapter 8
CdTe and CuInGaSe 2 Thin-Film Solar
Cells
Alessandro Romeo
Abstract Chapter 8 is divided into seven sections:
• Section 1. Describes the peculiarities of polycrystalline thin film materials with
emphasis on CdTe and CIGS. It highlights what are the pros and cons in fabricating
photovoltaic devices with these materials.
• Section 2. Describes in detail CIGS-based thin-film solar cells: the structure of the
cell with the different layers; the different fabrication processes, record efficiencies
and industrial applications.
• Section 3. Describes in detail CdTe-based thin-film solar cells: the structure of the
cell with the different layers; the different fabrication processes, record efficiencies
and industrial applications.
• Section 4. Describes the flexible configuration that thin film solar devices can
assume if special substrates are used.
• Section 5. Describes the all in-line fabrication process: from glass to finished
module in one production line.
• Section 6. Shows the behaviour of thin film photovoltaics at low light irradiation
and at high temperatures.
• Section 7. Shows the environmental impact of the devices in both fabrication,
operation and end-of-life.
8.1 Thin-Film Polycrystalline Materials
Thin film solar cells are based on materials, which show an extraordinary high absorption coefficient so that there is no need to build thick solar cells to absorb all the
light.
Using this kind of materials allows one to fabricate devices with an overall thickness of less than 10 µm and a clear advantage in terms of material supply and
fabrication energy.
A. Romeo (B)
University of Verona, Verona, Italy
e-mail: alessandro.romeo@univr.it
© Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2020
A. Shah (ed.), Solar Cells and Modules, Springer Series in Materials Science 301,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-46487-5_8
197
CdTe and CuInGaSe 2 Thin-Film Solar
Cells
Alessandro Romeo
Abstract Chapter 8 is divided into seven sections:
• Section 1. Describes the peculiarities of polycrystalline thin film materials with
emphasis on CdTe and CIGS. It highlights what are the pros and cons in fabricating
photovoltaic devices with these materials.
• Section 2. Describes in detail CIGS-based thin-film solar cells: the structure of the
cell with the different layers; the different fabrication processes, record efficiencies
and industrial applications.
• Section 3. Describes in detail CdTe-based thin-film solar cells: the structure of the
cell with the different layers; the different fabrication processes, record efficiencies
and industrial applications.
• Section 4. Describes the flexible configuration that thin film solar devices can
assume if special substrates are used.
• Section 5. Describes the all in-line fabrication process: from glass to finished
module in one production line.
• Section 6. Shows the behaviour of thin film photovoltaics at low light irradiation
and at high temperatures.
• Section 7. Shows the environmental impact of the devices in both fabrication,
operation and end-of-life.
8.1 Thin-Film Polycrystalline Materials
Thin film solar cells are based on materials, which show an extraordinary high absorption coefficient so that there is no need to build thick solar cells to absorb all the
light.
Using this kind of materials allows one to fabricate devices with an overall thickness of less than 10 µm and a clear advantage in terms of material supply and
fabrication energy.
A. Romeo (B)
University of Verona, Verona, Italy
e-mail: alessandro.romeo@univr.it
© Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2020
A. Shah (ed.), Solar Cells and Modules, Springer Series in Materials Science 301,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-46487-5_8
197