Photovoltaic manufacturing cost and throughput improvements for thin-film CIGS-based modules: Phase 1 technical report, July 1998--July 1999

Technical Report · Wed Mar 01 00:00:00 EST 2000

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/753815· OSTI ID:753815

Wiedeman, S; Wendt, R G

The primary objectives of the Global Solar Energy (GSE) Photovoltaic Manufacturing Technology (PVMaT) subcontract are directed toward reducing cost and expanding the production rate of thin-film CuInGaSe{sub 2} (CIGS)-based PV modules on flexible substrates. Improvements will be implemented in monolithic integration, CIGS deposition, contact deposition, and in-situ CIGS control and monitoring. In Phase 1, GSE has successfully attacked many of the highest risk aspects of each task. All-laser, selective scribing processes for CIGS have been developed, and many end-of-contract goals for scribing speed have been exceeded in the first year. High-speed ink-jet deposition of insulating material in the scribes now appears to be a viable technique, again exceeding some end-of-contract goals in the first year. Absorber deposition of CIGS was reduced corresponding to throughput speeds of up to 24-in/min, also exceeding an end-of-contract goal. Alternate back-contact materials have been identified that show potential as candidates for replacement of higher-cost molybdenum, and a novel, real-time monitoring technique (parallel-detector spectroscopic ellipsometry) has shown remarkable sensitivity to relevant properties of the CIGS absorber layer for use as a diagnostic tool. Currently, one of the bilayers has been baselined by GSE for flexible CIGS on polymeric substrates. Resultant back-contacts meet sheet-resistance goals and exhibit much less intrinsic stress than Mo. CIGS has been deposited, and resultant devices are comparable in performance to pure Mo back-contacts. Debris in the chamber has been substantially reduced, allowing longer roll-length between system cleaning.

• Research Organization: National Renewable Energy Lab. (NREL), Golden, CO (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: US Department of Energy (US)
• DOE Contract Number: AC36-99GO10337
• OSTI ID: 753815
• Report Number(s): NREL/SR-520-27590; TRN: AH200011%%9
• Resource Relation: Other Information: PBD: 1 Mar 2000
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

14 SOLAR ENERGY
36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
COPPER SELENIDE SOLAR CELLS
INDIUM SELENIDE SOLAR CELLS
GALLIUM SELENIDES
MANUFACTURING
COST
LASER BEAM MACHINING
BACK CONTACT SOLAR CELLS
PERFORMANCE
PHOTOVOLTAICS
PHOTOVOLTAIC MANUFACTURING TECHNOLOGY
PVMAT
LASER SCRIBING PROCESSES
INK-JET TECHNOLOGY
INSULATOR DEPOSITION
CUINGASE2
CIGS
HIGH-RATE CIGS DEPOSITION
PROCESS CONTROL
ROLL-TO-ROLL CIGS
THIN FILMS