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Advanced Flexible CIGS Solar Cells Enhanced by Broadband Nanostructured Antireflection Coatings

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  10 June 2015

Gopal G. Pethuraja
Affiliation:
Magnolia Solar, Inc., 251 Fuller Road, Albany, NY 12203, USA Energy and Environmental Technology Applications Center (E2TAC), College of Nanoscale Science and Engineering, SUNY Polytechnic Institute, Albany, NY 12203, USA
Roger E. Welser
Affiliation:
Magnolia Solar, Inc., 251 Fuller Road, Albany, NY 12203, USA
John W. Zeller
Affiliation:
Magnolia Solar, Inc., 251 Fuller Road, Albany, NY 12203, USA
Yash R. Puri
Affiliation:
Magnolia Solar, Inc., 251 Fuller Road, Albany, NY 12203, USA
Ashok K. Sood
Affiliation:
Magnolia Solar, Inc., 251 Fuller Road, Albany, NY 12203, USA
Harry Efstathiadis
Affiliation:
Energy and Environmental Technology Applications Center (E2TAC), College of Nanoscale Science and Engineering, SUNY Polytechnic Institute, Albany, NY 12203, USA
Pradeep Haldar
Affiliation:
Energy and Environmental Technology Applications Center (E2TAC), College of Nanoscale Science and Engineering, SUNY Polytechnic Institute, Albany, NY 12203, USA
Jennifer L. Harvey
Affiliation:
NYSERDA, 17 Columbia Circle, Albany, NY 12203, USA
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Abstract

Flexible copper indium gallium diselenide (CIGS) solar cells on lightweight substrates can deliver high specific powers. Flexible lightweight CIGS solar cells are also primary candidates for building-integrated panels. In all applications, CIGS cells can greatly benefit from the application of broadband and wide-angle AR coating technology. The AR coatings can significantly improve the transmittance of light over the entire CIGS absorption band spectrum. Increased short-circuit current has been observed after integrating AR coated films onto baseline solar panels. NREL’s System Advisor Model (SAM) has predicted up to 14% higher annual power output on AR integrated vertical or building-integrated panels. The combination of lightweight flexible substrates and advanced device designs employing nanostructured optical coatings together have the potential to achieve flexible CIGS modules with enhanced efficiencies and specific power.

Type
Articles
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 2015 

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References

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