Thin-Film Solar Cells: CIGS, CdTe, and Kesterite Materials
This community develops thin-film photovoltaic technologies using cadmium telluride, copper indium gallium selenide, and kesterite compounds to create solar cells for electricity generation.
The work centers on depositing thin films of cadmium telluride, copper indium gallium selenide, and kesterite materials onto substrates. Researchers focus on optimizing buffer layers, controlling grain structure, and improving electrical efficiency through chemical bath deposition, spray pyrolysis, and structural analysis. A significant portion of the literature addresses the recycling of end-of-life photovoltaic modules and the life cycle assessment of these materials. The recurring materials include cadmium, tellurium, indium, selenium, and sulfur, with specific attention to antimony sulfide and tin sulfide variants.
The largest share of the community's output is found in tellurium research, accounting for 17.7% of all tellurium research, and 7,364 papers here. Cadmium research also represents a major component, with 9,138 papers constituting 10.0% of all cadmium research.
The community comprises 28,559 papers, publishing primarily in Thin Solid Films, Solar Energy Materials and Solar Cells, and the Journal of Applied Physics.
Recent work continues to focus on improving the efficiency of kesterite and antimony-based solar cells, as well as developing methods for recycling silicon photovoltaic modules and integrating photovoltaics into building facades.