Development of a new type of thin-film solar cell based on rare-metal-free compound

Hideaki Araki

Associate Professor, Department of Materials Engineering, Nagaoka National College of Technology

Abstract

We are engaged in the development of a new type of compound-based thin-film solar cell appropriate for large-volume production using a sulfide-based light-absorbing compound that is free of the rare metals indium and toxic selenium and consists of copper, tin and sulfur, which are abundant and low-cost materials. Although copper-tin-sulfide thin-films are known to exhibit characteristics appropriate for solar cells, to date, many key aspects remain unclear. Our development aims to elucidate the basic properties of this material and establish an appropriate fabrication process, resulting in the creation of high-efficiency, low-cost compound-based thin-film solar cells.