”Our sun provides more energy than mankind can ever use for its own supply. The development and provision of technologies for utilizing this free energy source is crucial for our future.”

The future energy supply for the world will be based on photovoltaics and wind energy. Thanks to silicon-based solar cells, photovoltaics is now one of the most economical sources of electricity worldwide, depending on location. 

According to the World Energy Outlook 2020 published by the International Energy Agency IEA, the cost of generating electricity from photovoltaics in Europe lies between 2.7 and 5.4 €ct/kWh for large-scale greenfield installations¹. Highly efficient solar cells are therefore strategically one of the most important optoelectronic components of the future. 

The latest generations are based on the application of vacuum technology for the creation of virtually defect-free interfaces with optimized optoelectronic adaptation to the photovoltaic absorber.

The further development of cell technology towards higher efficiencies is necessary in order to facilitate a reduction in the electricity generation costs, material costs and, as a result, area-related scaling effects. Promising new cell technologies are presented by tandem solar cells based on established silicon and CIGS technologies in combination with perovskite as an additional absorber material. Tandem solar cells have a very complex structure.

They are comprised of a large number of wafer-thin contact layers that are deposited under, between and on the two absorbers. At the Fraunhofer IST, we have acquired extensive expertise in the field of vacuum technologies, which we apply here in order to realize highly efficient processes and, at the same time, excellent layer properties for e.g. transparent conductive layers, tunnel and front contacts or hole and electron contact layers. 

The scaling-up of the technologies forms a further focus of our work. Our customers and partners benefit not only from our expertise in the development of layers for photovoltaics or in simulation for process optimization, but also from our measurement technology for quality assurance and control. Furthermore, we carry out Life Cycle Assessments and design the entire product life cycle with regard to sustainability within the scope of our Life Cycle Engineering.

¹IEA World Energy Outlook 2020, p. 238, https://www.iea.org/