Recent progress in the high-temperature-resistant PI substrate with low CTE for CIGS thin-film solar cells. (June 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Shi, S.; Yao, L.; Ma, P.; Jiao, Y.; Zheng, X.; Ning, D.; Chen, M.; Sui, F.; Liu, H.; Yang, C.; Li, W.
• Is Part Of: Materials today energy. Volume 20(2021)
• Publication Date: 2021-06
• Subjects: Polyimide -- CIGS solar cells -- Flexible substrate -- PV -- Thermal stability; Energy development -- Periodicals; Energy industries -- Periodicals; Power resources -- Periodicals; Energy policy -- Periodicals; Energy development; Energy industries; Energy policy; Power resources; Electronic journals; Periodicals; 621.042
• DOI: 10.1016/j.mtener.2021.100640
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2468-6069

Abstract

Abstract: Copper indium gallium di-selenide [Cu(InGa)Se2 or CIGS] thin-film solar cell has attracted great attention because of their high efficiency, low cost potential, less raw materials consumption, and so on. Using polyimide (PI) as the flexible substrate, the CIGS thin-film solar cell has the advantages of light weight, flexibility, and low energy consumption compared with the conventional hard glass substrate. However, there are still challenges in PI foils for flexible CIGS substrate application: (1) the thermal resistance of the PI foils is not high enough, which cannot stand in the high temperature CIGS absorber formation process; and (2) the coefficient of thermal expansion of the PI foils is too large, which causes peeling-off problems of subsequently deposited Mo back electrode on the PI foils. This article reviews the current status of the CIGS solar cells on flexible PI. In addition, recent progress and future prospects of the high temperature resistance and low thermal expansion of PI foils for high efficiency are reviewed. Graphical abstract: CIGS modules produced by different manufactures: (a) Solar Frontier's CIGS module on glass substrate; (b) Miasole's CIGS module on stainless steel substrate; (c) Global Solar's CIGS module on stainless steel substrate; and (d) Ascent Solar's CIGS module on PI substrate. Image 1 Highlights: Development of flexible CIGS solar cell and module. Brief introduction of the high-temperature-resistant PI film. Recent progress on the high temperature resistance and low coefficient of thermal expansion modification of PI film.