• Journal of the Korean Solar Energy Society
• /
• v.33 no.3
• /
• pp.107-113
• /
• 2013

In this study, three different types of experimental models of BIPV curtain wall units with GIGS modules were built, and their thermal and electrical performances were analyzed. The experimental results showed that the temperature of the rear side of the GIGS module with the application of an insulation in the curtain wall spandrels was higher than a GIGS module standalone by $22^{\circ}C$, which results in a reduction in the power generation of the former by 8 %. On the other hand, when ventilation was applied to the model to improve the power generation performance, the module temperature was observed to be $142^{\circ}C$ lower compared to the enclosed type, and the power generation performance improved by 5 %. It confirmed that the temperature increase in the rear side of the GIGS module with insulation layer reduced the electrical performance of the module. Based on this, it is claimed that providing sufficient ventilation at the GIGS applied spandrels contribute to improve the power generation of the GIGS module.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
• /
• 2012.08a
• /
• pp.440-440
• /
• 2012

Nanomaterials have emerged as new building blocks to construct light energy harvesting assemblies. Size dependent properties provide the basis for developing new and effective systems with semiconductor nanoparticles, quantized charging effects in metal nanoparticle or their combinations in 2 and 3 dimensions for expanding the possibility of developing new strategies for photovoltaic system. As top-down approach, we developed a simple and effective method for the large scale formation of self-assembled Cu(In,Ga)$Se_2$ (CIGS) nanostructures by ion beam irradiation. The compositional changes and morphological evolution were observed as a function of the irradiation time. As the ion irradiation time increased, the nano-dots were transformed into a nano-ridge structure due to the difference in the sputtering yields and diffusion rates of each element and the competition between sputtering and diffusion processes during irradiation. As bottom-up approach, we developed the growth of CIGS nanowires using thermal-chemical vapor deposition (CVD) method. Vapor-phase synthesis is probably the most extensively explored approach to the formation of 1D nanostructures such as whiskers, nanorods, and nanowires. However, unlike binary or ternary chalcogenides, the synthesis of quaternary CIGS nanostructures is challenging because of the difficulty in controlling the stoichiometry and phase structure. We introduced a method for synthesis of the single crystalline CIGS nanowires in the form of chalcopyrite using thermal-CVD without catalyst. It was confirmed that the CIGS nanowires are epitaxially grown on a sapphire substrate, having a length ranged from 3 to 100 micrometers and a diameter from 30 to 500 nm.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers
• /
• v.16 no.2
• /
• pp.102-107
• /
• 2003

This study puts focus on the optimization of growth temperature of CIGS absorber layer which affects severely the performance of solar cells. The CIGS absorber layers were prepared by three-stage co-evaporation of metal elements in the order of In-Ga-Se. The effect of the growth temperature of 1st stage was found not to be so important, and 350$^{\circ}C$ to be the lowest optimum temperature. In the case of growth temperature at 2nd/3rd stage, the optimum temperature was revealed to be 550$^{\circ}C$. The XRD results of CIGS films showed a strong (112) preferred orientation and the Raman spectra of CIGS films showed only the Al mode peak at 173cm$\^$-1/. Scanning electron microscopy results revealed very small grains at 2nd/3rd stage growth temperature of 480$^{\circ}C$. At higher temperatures, the grain size increased together with a reduction in the number of the voids. The optimization of experimental parameters above mentioned, through the repeated fabrication and characterization of unit layers and devices, led to the highest conversion efficiency of 15.4% from CIGS-based thin film solar cell with a structure of Al/ZnO/CdS/CIGS/Mo/glass.

• Journal of the Korean Electrochemical Society
• /
• v.13 no.2
• /
• pp.89-95
• /
• 2010

The chalcopyrite $Cu(In_xGa_{(1-x)})Se_2$ (CIGS) is considered to be one of the effective light-absorbing materials for thin film photovoltaic solar cells. We describe the electrodeposition of CIGS thin films in ambient laboratory conditions, and suggest the electrochemical conditions to prepare stoichiometric CIGS thin films of Ga/(In + Ga) = 0.3. In acidic solutions containing $Cu^{2+}$, $In^{3+}$, $Ga^{3+}$ and $Se^{4+}$ ions, the CIGS films of different Cu/In/Ga/Se chemical compositions were electrodeposited onto Mo/Glass substrate. The structure, morphology and chemical composition of electrodeposited CIGS films were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and Energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), respectively.

• Current Photovoltaic Research
• /
• v.3 no.1
• /
• pp.32-38
• /
• 2015

CIGS solar cell consisted of various films. In this research, we investigated electrode materials in $Cu(In,Ga)Se_2$ (CIGS) cells, including Al-doped ZnO (ZnO:Al), intrinsic ZnO (i-ZnO), and Al films. The sputtered ZnO:Al film with a sputtering power at 200W showed the lowest series resistance and highest cell efficiency. The electrical resistivity of the 200-W sputtered ZnO:Al film was $5.2{\times}10^{-4}{\Omega}{\cdot}cm$ by the rapid thermal annealing at $200^{\circ}C$ for 1 min. The electrical resistivity of i-ZnO was not measurable due to its high resistance. But the optical transmittance was highest with less oxygen supply and high efficiency cell was achieved with $O_2/(Ar+O_2)$ ratio was 1% due to the increase of short-circuit current. No significant change in the cell performance by inserting a Ni layer between Al and ZnO:Al films was observed.

• Bulletin of the Korea Photovoltaic Society
• /
• v.7 no.1
• /
• pp.17-26
• /
• 2021

Cu(In,Ga)Se₂(CIGS) 태양전지 연구개발은 1970년대부터 지속적으로 발전하여 유리 및 플렉서블 기판에서 모두 20% 이상의 고효율을 달성하였으며, 상용화도 성공적으로 이루었다. 최근 태양전지의 초고효율화를 위한 방안으로 태양전지를 적층하는 다중접합 태양전지 특히 제조원가를 고려한 탠덤 구조에 대한 연구가 상당히 주목을 받고 있다. 이는 페로브스카이트 태양전지를 상부셀로 적용하였을 때, 29.5%의 초고효율이 보고되었기 때문이다. 이런 추세로 보면 태양전지의 탠덤 구조는 초고효율화 달성에 필연적으로 사용될 것으로 생각된다. 하지만 초고효율화와 더불어 BIPV, VIPV, 모바일소자 등 심미성, 경량성, 유연성을 갖춘 다기능성 태양전지에 대한 요구까지 충족시키기 위해서는 궁극적으로 유연한 하부셀이 사용되어야 한다. 이런 점들을 고려하였을 때, 초고효율 유연 탠덤 태양전지의 하부셀로 유연 CIGS 박막 태양전지가 적합한 선택이 될 것으로 판단된다. 따라서 본 글에서는 CIGS 박막 태양전지를 기반으로 하는 탠덤 태양전지의 연구개발 현황에 대해서 살펴보고 향후 유연 탠덤 태양전지의 전망에 대해서도 기술하고자 한다.

• Journal of the Korean Solar Energy Society
• /
• v.31 no.1
• /
• pp.93-99
• /
• 2011

To guarantee more exact maximum power of solar cell module, it is absolutely required to have performance characteristics of various solar cells. Today, there are many types of solar simulator for large area measurement. But it is very opaque how to select the best one for various solar cell module like crystalline silicon solar cell, high efficiency solar cell, amorphous silicon thin film solar cell, CdTe and CIGS solar cell module. So, in this paper 4 types of photovoltaic module were selected to compare the electrical characteristics by changing light pulse duration time and voltage scan direction. Light pulse duration time was varied from 10msec to 800msec. And two types of voltage scan directions, Voc->Isc and Isc->Voc were selected. From this results, optimum measuring condition was suggested and electrical variation was analysed for each types of solar cell module. The detail description is specified as the following paper.

• 한국태양에너지학회:학술대회논문집
• /
• 2012.03a
• /
• pp.149-152
• /
• 2012

$Cu(In,Ga)Se_2$ (CIGS) is one of the most promising photovoltaic materials because of large conversion efficiency which has been achieved with an optimum Ga/(In+Ga) composition in $CuIn_{1-x}Ga_xSe_2$ (X~0.3). The Ga/(In+Ga) content is important to determine band gap, solar cell performances and carrier behaviors at grain boundary (GB). Effects of Ga/(In+Ga) content on physical properties of the CIGS layers have been extensively studied. In previous research, it is reported that GB is not recombination center of CIGS thin-film solar cells. However, GB recombination and electron-hole pair behavior studies are still lacking, especially influence of with different X on CIGS thin-films. We obtained the GB surface potential, local current and I-V characteristic of different X (00.7 while X~0.3 showed higher potential than 100 mV on GBs. Higher potential on GBs appears positive band bending. It can decrease recombination loss because of carrier separation. Therefore, we suggest recombination and electron-hole behaviors at GBs depending on composition of X.

• Proceedings of the Materials Research Society of Korea Conference
• /
• 2010.05a
• /
• pp.34.2-34.2
• /
• 2010

Cu(In,Ga)Se2 (CIGS) 화합물 반도체를 기반으로 한 태양전지는 박막태양전지 기술 중 세계최고효율을 기록하고 있다. CIGS를 합성하는 방법은 동시증발법, 스퍼터링/셀렌화 등의 진공방식과 나노분말법, 전착법, 용액법 등의 비진공방식이 있으나, 현재까지 진공방식이 양산기술로서 완성도가 높은 것으로 알려져 있다. 특히 스퍼터링에 의한 전구체 박막 증착과 셀렌 분위기에서의 열처리 공정을 결합시킨 2단계 공정은 동시증발법에 비해 대면적 모듈 제조에 유리한 것으로 알려져 있다. 셀렌화 공정은 통상 반응성이 매우 높은 H2Se 기체를 이용하고 있으나, 부식성 및 안전성 문제를 해결하기 위해 추가적인 설비가 요구되므로 제조비용을 높이는 단점을 갖는다. 한편, Se 증기를 이용하면 안전성은 담보되나 낮은 반응성으로 인해 고온에서 장시간 열처리를 해야하는 문제를 안고 있다. 본 연구에서는 새로운 Se 증기를 사용하되 반응효율을 높일 수 있는 새로운 셀렌화 열처리방법을 제시하고자 한다. 기존의 Se 증기가 별도의 증발원을 이용하여 공급된 것과는 달리, 금속전구체 직상부에 Se이 코팅된 별도의 커버글라스를 위치시켜 Se의 손실을 최대한 억제하였다. Se 커버글라스가 밀착된 금속프리커서를 $200{\sim}600^{\circ}C$ 온도범위에서 열저항가열로 내부에서 열처리하였으며, 추가로 Se을 공급하지는 않았다. 이와 같은 방법 제조된 CIGS 박막의 물성을 X선회절법, 주사전자현미경 등으로 관찰하였으며, 예비실험결과 비교적 낮은 온도에서 chalcopyrite 상이 형성됨을 확인하였다. 근접셀렌화에 의해 제조된 CIGS 박막이 적용된 태양전지를 제조하여 셀렌화 공정변수에 따른 소자특성변화를 제시하고자 한다.

• Current Photovoltaic Research
• /
• v.3 no.1
• /
• pp.16-20
• /
• 2015

Ag addition in chalcopyrite materials is known to lead beneficial changes in aspects of structural and electronic properties. In this work, the effects of Ag alloying of $Cu(In,Ga)Se_2$-based solar cells has been investigated. Wide bandgap $(Ag,Cu)(In_{1-x},Ga_x)Se_2$ (x = 0.75~0.8) films have been deposited using a three-stage co-evaporation with various Ag/(Ag+Cu) ratios. With Ag alloying the $(Ag,Cu)(In_{1-x},Ga_x)Se_2$ (x~0.8) films were found to have greater grainsize and film thickness. Device were also fabricated with the $(Ag,Cu)(In_{1-x},Ga_x)Se_2$ (x~0.8) films and their J-V and quantum efficiency measurements were carried out. The highest-efficiency $(Ag,Cu)(In_{1-x},Ga_x)Se_2$ solar cell with Eg > 1.5 eV had an efficiency of 12.2% with device parameters $V_{OC}=0.810V$, $J_{SC}=21.7mA/cm^2$, and FF = 69.0%.