CIGS Thin Film Solar Cells via the Sol-Gel Process

"Future DoD/commercial space missions will require photovoltaic devices having specific power ratings in excess of 1000 W/kg. Thin film devices (which have effective area density equal to the substrate) have the potential of providing higher specific powerratings. In this proposed research, we plan to use the sol-gel process to make the dense crystalline CIGS films at room temperature. Typical processes will be employed to make the cells and modules. We are targeting to achieve higher than 10% efficiencyusing the low density polymer (~ 1 g/cm3) as substrates in order to obtain a specific power rating of 1000W/kg. The proposed research has great potential to reduce the cost in manufacturing CIGS solar cells because the process in non-vacuum and lowtemperature. Low cost high efficiency thin film solar cells could be used for terrestrial/space applications. The market place for commercial space based/terrestrial solar arrays is strong and growing at a rapid rate."