Page 273 - Mirjam-Theelen-Degradation-of-CIGS-solar-cells
P. 273
Summaries - Summary
Recommendations for future work
Since all CIGS solar cell companies and research institutes are using sodium and
potassium to increase the PV efficiency, the research in the next steps should focus
on the development of a stable solar cell with sodium and/or potassium, since the
latter seems to diffuse slower. The current route to follow comprises the introduction
of low quantities of sodium by post deposition treatment, or by the optimisation of
solar cells with high quantities of potassium and low quantities of sodium. This can
hopefully lead to both high initial efficiencies and reduced degradation.
Additionally, future tests should include CIGS solar cells deposited by alternative
routes or containing different materials. This can for example include CIGS absorbers
deposited by the two stage process, alternative buffers and TCOs and alternative
interconnection methods.
On the long term, qualitative knowledge should also be translated into a quantitative
model. This should be executed by the modelling of the change in the electrical,
optical and compositional parameters that is caused by the degradation. This model
can then help to actually predict the behaviour of CIGS panels that are in operation
for many years.
271
Recommendations for future work
Since all CIGS solar cell companies and research institutes are using sodium and
potassium to increase the PV efficiency, the research in the next steps should focus
on the development of a stable solar cell with sodium and/or potassium, since the
latter seems to diffuse slower. The current route to follow comprises the introduction
of low quantities of sodium by post deposition treatment, or by the optimisation of
solar cells with high quantities of potassium and low quantities of sodium. This can
hopefully lead to both high initial efficiencies and reduced degradation.
Additionally, future tests should include CIGS solar cells deposited by alternative
routes or containing different materials. This can for example include CIGS absorbers
deposited by the two stage process, alternative buffers and TCOs and alternative
interconnection methods.
On the long term, qualitative knowledge should also be translated into a quantitative
model. This should be executed by the modelling of the change in the electrical,
optical and compositional parameters that is caused by the degradation. This model
can then help to actually predict the behaviour of CIGS panels that are in operation
for many years.
271
