ILGAR achieved efficiency record

HZB-scientists have received simultaneous confirmation of two records in efficiency levels for CIS thin film solar-modules.

There are in existence technologically low-priced production processes for all components of thin film solar modules – however, for the buffer layer this was, until only recently, not the case. The standard material for these components is the toxic cadmium-sulphide. The ILGAR procedure (Ion Layer Gas Reaction) developed at HZB provided a remedy in this regard; with the aid thereof, semiconductors of highest quality for thin film solar cells can be produced in standardised processes.  The buffer layers of indium-sulphide or zinc-sulphide/indium-sulphide produced hereby are able to replace the toxic cadmium in thin film solar cells. ILGAR renders a deposition technique superfluous – the procedure known as “chemical bath deposition”, which is considered slow and harmful to the environment.

To generate their record-breaking cells, HZB scientists used absorbers (i.e. light-absorbing layers), which are deployed as a standard in the industry. Two solar-cell efficiency levels were thereby confirmed in this context. 16.1 percent were achieved for cells that were produced with ILGAR indium-sulphide buffer layers (In2S3) based on CIS Tech Cu(In,Ga)(S,Se)2 absorbers (in-house measurements of 16.8% right after production). The HZB scientist Johanna Krammer was responsible for the buffer, for which she was able to access comprehensive preliminary work by the ILGAR Group. From the Bosch Firm, Dr. A. Jasenek and Dr. F. Hergert are to be commended for their exemplary support.

Based on cells with absorbers from the AVANCIS Firm, the scientists were able to confirm in the context of their own measurements cell efficiency levels of 16.4 percent. In collaboration with the mechanical engineer firm Singulus-Stangl Solar, an industrial prototype of an ILGAR in-line laminator was developed. Within HZB, In2S3 buffers with a velocity of 10 millimetres per second were isolated. The resulting 30x30 square centimetre solar modules on the basis of AVANCIS absorber layers indicated, with 13.7 percent, an equivalent efficiency level compared to that of cadmium-sulphide buffered reference modules. 

The ILGAR team, led by Professor Dr. Christian-Herbert Fischer, was awarded in June 2011 at the Clean Technology Conference & Expo in Boston, USA for their patented ILGAR procedure as one of four GERMAN HIGH TECH CHAMPIONS in the competition sponsored by the Fraunhofer Society.