University of Luxembourg reduces tin loss in preparation of thin film solar cells
Kesterites combine the low cost of thin film solar cell technologies with low raw material cost. Their main component consists of copper, zinc, tin, and sulfur or selenium, all abundant and low cost elements. Previously researchers have found the loss of tin during preparation limits the ability to control deposition processes when creating thin film solar cells.
"With this first success we are now able to understand the further limitations of these solar cells. This will help us to improve the efficiency further," said Susanne Siebentritt, head of the Laboratory for Photovoltaics. The laboratory was founded in Luxembourg in April 2007 within the framework of the TDK Europe professorship, a public-private partnership funded by TDK Corporation and the University of Luxembourg.
Thin film solar cells are increasing their market share as a consequence of their low production costs which see lower energy consumption compared to the conventional wafer technologies.
Details of the preparation process have been published in the Journal of the American Chemical Society.
Visit the Laboratory for Photovoltaics of the University of Luxembourg at:
wwwen.uni.lu/research/fstc/physics_and_material_research_unit/photovoltaics_lpv
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