Lighter versatile tandem photo voltaic cells set new benchmark in effectivity
by Riko Seibo
Tokyo, Japan (SPX) Apr 15, 2025
The Korea Institute of Power Analysis (KIER) has achieved a significant milestone in photo voltaic know-how by creating ultra-light and bendable tandem photo voltaic cells composed of perovskite and CIGS supplies. These versatile photo voltaic cells have reached a record-breaking energy conversion effectivity of 23.64 %, the best but for his or her class.
Not like conventional crystalline silicon-based cells, that are extensively used on account of price effectivity and scalability, the brand new tandem design leverages thin-film applied sciences for enhanced adaptability. Silicon-perovskite tandems have reached as much as 34.6 % effectivity, however their weight and fragility limit utilization in weight-sensitive sectors similar to aerospace and automotive. To handle these challenges, KIER researchers turned to combining perovskite with copper indium gallium selenide (CIGS), a semiconductor recognized for its flexibility and suitability for curved surfaces.
CIGS thin-film photo voltaic cells might be fabricated on substrates like polyimide and steel foils, making them splendid for integration into non-flat surfaces. Nevertheless, these cells have traditionally confronted obstacles in effectivity and ease of manufacturing. KIER’s innovation lies in each its supplies engineering and a novel lift-off fabrication approach.
The group launched a course of wherein a glass base is first coated with a polyimide layer. The tandem photo voltaic cell is then constructed atop this basis and subsequently indifferent from the glass, producing a freestanding, versatile system. This technique affords stability throughout fabrication and improves layer uniformity, which boosts efficiency and consistency.
One other breakthrough got here from managing alkali steel diffusion. Throughout fabrication, potassium atoms from the glass substrate can penetrate the CIGS layer, creating defects that impair cost mobility. Utilizing computational modeling, KIER scientists confirmed that the polyimide coating successfully suppresses this undesirable diffusion, leading to fewer structural flaws and higher efficiency.
The fruits of those improvements was a photo voltaic cell that not solely surpassed the earlier effectivity benchmark of 18.1 % for versatile perovskite/CIGS tandems but additionally maintained 97.7 % of its output after 100,000 flexing cycles, confirming its mechanical resilience.
“This analysis is a key achievement that demonstrates the industrial potential of next-generation high-efficiency photo voltaic cell know-how with flexibility and lightness,” stated Dr. Inyoung Jeong. “It serves as an necessary milestone towards realizing ultralight, versatile photo voltaic cells with 30 % effectivity sooner or later.”
Dr. Kihwan Kim, principal investigator of the challenge, added, “The ability-to-weight ratio of the fabricated photo voltaic cell is roughly 10 occasions increased than that of perovskite/silicon tandem photo voltaic cells, making it extremely promising for functions in fields that require ultralight photo voltaic modules, similar to constructing exteriors, autos, and aerospace.”
The research, revealed within the March subject of Joule (Affect Issue: 38.6), was performed with assist from KIER’s R and D Program and in collaboration with Professor Tae Kyung Lee of Gyeongsang Nationwide College and Professor Hae-Jin Kim of Yonsei College.
Analysis Report:Flexible and lightweight perovskite/Cu(In,Ga)Se2 tandem solar cells
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National Research Council of Science and Technology
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