Researchers find low cost approach to produce solar cells

OREGON, US: Engineers at the Oregon University have discovered a thin-film photovoltaic technology that offers low cost, high volume approach to manufacturing solar cells. The engineers used microwave heating in the synthesis of copper zinc tin sulphide.

The research was funded and supported by Sharp Laboratories of America, the Oregon Nanoscience and Microtechnologies Institute, and the Oregon Process Innovation Centre for Sustainable Solar Cell Manufacturing, an Oregon BEST signature research facility.

The researchers have published their findings in the professional journal, Physica Status Solidi A. "All of the elements used in this new compound are benign and inexpensive, and should have good solar cell performance," said Greg Herman, an associate professor in the School of Chemical, Biological and Environmental Engineering at OSU.

"Several companies are already moving in this direction as prices continue to rise for some alternative compounds that contain more expensive elements like indium. With some improvements in its solar efficiency this new compound should become very commercially attractive,” he said.

A new approach is to create them as an ink composed of nanoparticles, which could be rolled or sprayed to create solar cells. Inorder to reduce reaction times to minutes or seconds, and allow for great control over the production process, researchers are now using microwave heating, instead of conventional heating.

As per the researchers, this "one-pot" synthesis is fast, cheap and uses less energy and has been utilised to successfully create nanoparticle inks that were used to fabricate a photovoltaic device.

"This approach should save money, work well and be easier to scale up at commercial levels, compared to traditional synthetic methods. Microwave technology offers more precise control over heat and energy to achieve the desired reactions,” Herman said.