A new breakthrough in solar technology has been achieved by scientists at the Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology (Empa). They have developed a flexible solar cell with a record-breaking efficiency of 20.8%, which is comparable to the efficiency of commercially used monocrystalline silicon solar cells. The advantage of the new solar cell is its flexibility, which allows it to be bent and shaped into various forms, making it ideal for use in clothing and other mobile applications. The previous record for a flexible solar cell made of copper-indium-gallium-diselenide (CIGS) was 18.7%, set by Empa scientists in 2011.
The new solar cell was created through three key improvements to the existing technology. The chemical composition of the absorber layer was optimized to improve the electronic and optical properties of the solar cell. The process for alkali metal doping was changed, and the interface properties between the absorber and buffer layers were modified to increase the electricity generation of the thin-film solar cell. The scientists hope that their optimized version of the CIGS solar cell will soon be available on the market.
The potential of the new technology is significant, as it can now compete with traditional, non-flexible solar cells. The Empa scientists are now focused on scaling up their new process from the laboratory to the industrial scale, in order to increase the electricity generation and profitability of photovoltaic systems. The development of flexible solar cells with high efficiency is a major step forward in the field of renewable energy, and could have a significant impact on the future of solar power.
