Abstract: Disclosed is a method of forming a chalcogen compound thin film suitable for use in a light-absorption layer of a solar cell. The method includes manufacturing a precursor liquid including an Sn precursor material and an S precursor material, applying the precursor liquid to form a precursor film, and heat-treating the precursor film. The Sn precursor material and the S precursor material are liquid materials. The present invention provides a method of forming a chalcogen compound thin film using a liquid precursor material without a sulfurization process, thereby forming a high-quality SnS thin film at low cost using a process which is suitable for mass production. Further, the light-absorption layer is formed using a process which is suitable for mass production, thus enabling the manufacture of a solar cell including the chalcogen compound thin film at low cost.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of forming a CIGS-based thin film having high efficiency using a simple process at relatively low temperatures. The method includes an Ag thin film forming step and an ACIGS forming step of depositing Cu, In, Ga, and Se on the surface of the Ag thin film using a vacuum co-evaporation process. Ag, constituting the Ag thin film, is completely diffused, while Cu, In, Ga, and Se are deposited to form ACIGS together with Cu, In, Ga, and Se co-evaporated in a vacuum during the ACIGS forming step. The Ag thin film is formed and CIGS elements are then deposited using vacuum co-evaporation to form an ACIGS thin film having improved power generation efficiency at a relatively low temperature of 400° C. or less using only a single-stage vacuum co-evaporation process.

Abstract: A method of fabricating an Ag—(Cu—)In—Ga—Se (A(C)IGS) based thin film using Se—Ag2Se core-shell nanoparticles, an A(C)IGS based thin film fabricated by the method, and a tandem solar cell having the A(C)IGS thin film are disclosed. More particularly, a method of fabricating a densified Ag—(Cu—)In—Ga—Se (A(C)IGS) based thin film by non-vacuum coating a substrate with a slurry containing Se—Ag2Se core-shell nanoparticles, an A(C)IGS based thin film fabricated by the method, and a tandem solar cell including the A(C)IGS based thin film are disclosed. According to the present invention, an A(C)IGS based thin film including Ag is manufactured by applying Se—Ag2Se core-shell nanoparticles in a process of manufacturing a (C)IGS thin film, thereby providing an A(C)IGS based thin film having a wide band gap.

Abstract: Disclosed is a crucible that exhibits stable evaporation efficiency and durability with respect to Al, is used in an evaporation source of an electron-beam evaporator, and includes a storage unit, which includes a wall and a bottom and in which a deposition material is placed, and a wetting prevention unit that includes another wall, which is taller than the wall of the storage unit, and another bottom, and is combined with an exterior of the storage unit. The wetting prevention unit is provided so that only the wall of the storage unit is wet with Al, and accordingly, the lifespan of the crucible is lengthened. Further, contact with the ceramic material in order to prevent wetting is minimized, thereby preventing a reduction in the physical properties of the thin film due to the impurities mixed with the deposited Al.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a light absorption layer of a thin film solar cell includes: manufacturing a Ib group element-VIa group element binary system nano particle; manufacturing a binary system nano particle slurry of the Ib group element-VIa group element by adding a solution precursor including a solvent, binder and Va group element to the Ib group element-VIa group element binary system nano particle; distributing and mixing the binary system nano particle slurry of the Ib group element-VIa group element; coating the binary system nano particle slurry of the Ib group element-VIa group element on the rear electrode layer; and performing a heat treatment process on the coated nano particle slurry by supplying the VIa group element.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a device for controlling a sample temperature during photoelectric measurement of the sample. The device for controlling a sample temperature during photoelectric measurement of the sample includes: a sample stage to which a measurement target sample is fixed; a cooling unit for cooling the sample by injecting air; and a temperature measuring unit having a thermometer that measures a temperature of the sample. The device has an effect of easily controlling the temperature of a measurement target sample by employing a direct control method for a sample temperature, in which air or cooled air is injected to the sample.

Abstract: Disclosed are a method of manufacturing a CI(G)S-based thin film including aging of a slurry composed of binary nanoparticles, and a CI(G)S-based thin film manufactured thereby. The method of manufacturing the CI(G)S-based thin film includes: preparing CI(G)S-based binary nanoparticles; mixing the binary nanoparticles, a solution precursor including a CI(G)S-based element, a solvent and a chelating agent, thus preparing a hybrid slurry; aging the hybrid slurry for 5 to 10 days; subjecting the aged hybrid slurry to coating, thus forming a CI(G)S-based thin film; and subjecting the CI(G)S-based thin film to heat treatment. Thereby, high reproducibility can be ensured upon manufacturing a CI(G)S-based thin film for solar cells, and thus reliability of the produced thin film can be increased.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of forming a chalcopyrite light-absorbing layer for a solar cell, including: forming a thin film including a chalcopyrite compound precursor; and radiating light on the thin film, wherein the chalcopyrite compound precursor absorbs light energy and is thus crystallized. When forming the chalcopyrite light-absorbing layer, light, but not heat, is applied, thus preventing problems, including damage to a substrate due to heat and formation of MoSe2 due to heating of the Mo rear electrode. Furthermore, long-wavelength light, which deeply penetrates the thin film, is first radiated, and short-wavelength light, which shallowly penetrates the thin film, is subsequently radiated, thereby sequentially forming the chalcopyrite light-absorbing layer from the bottom of the thin film.

Abstract: A solar cell module, a method for manufacturing the solar cell module, a solar power system, and an interconnection ribbon are provided. The solar cell module includes a plurality of solar cells which are connected in series or in parallel through interconnection ribbons, wherein the interconnection ribbons have a zigzag shape to reduce tension generated according to bending of the solar cell module.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of forming a chalcopyrite light-absorbing layer for a solar cell, including: forming a thin film including a chalcopyrite compound precursor; and radiating light on the thin film, wherein the chalcopyrite compound precursor absorbs light energy and is thus crystallized. When forming the chalcopyrite light-absorbing layer, light, but not heat, is applied, thus preventing problems, including damage to a substrate due to heat and formation of MoSe2 due to heating of the Mo rear electrode. Furthermore, long-wavelength light, which deeply penetrates the thin film, is first radiated, and short-wavelength light, which shallowly penetrates the thin film, is subsequently radiated, thereby sequentially forming the chalcopyrite light-absorbing layer from the bottom of the thin film.

Abstract: Disclosed is an ultra-thin HIT solar cell, including: an n- or p-type crystalline silicon substrate; an amorphous silicon emitter layer having a doping type different from that of the silicon substrate; and an intrinsic amorphous silicon passivation layer formed between the crystalline silicon substrate and the amorphous silicon emitter layer, wherein the HIT solar cell further includes a transparent conductive oxide layer made of ZnO on an upper surface thereof, and the surface of the crystalline silicon substrate is not textured but only the surface of the transparent conductive oxide layer is textured, and thereby a very thin crystalline silicon substrate can be used, ultimately achieving an ultra-thin HIT solar cell having a very low total thickness while maintaining light trapping capacity.

Abstract: The invention relates a thin-film solar cell. In the related art, a buffer layer, a transparent electrode, and a grid electrode are formed on a light absorption layer, but in the invention, the buffer layer and the transparent electrode are not formed on a light absorption layer, and the buffer layer, the transparent electrode, and the grid electrode are formed under a CIGS face such that solar light is directly input to the light absorption layer without obstacles, and the first electrode and the buffer layer are patterned in a saw-toothed structure to engage with each other to reduce a distance by which electrons or holes generated by absorbing light energy move to the electrode or the buffer layer.

Abstract: A method of forming a nanometer-scale prominence and depression structure on a zinc oxide thin film in a wet-etching method, and the method includes the steps of: preparing a substrate; forming a nano structure having a height and a width of a nanometer range; forming the zinc oxide thin film on the substrate on which the nano structure is formed; and wet-etching the zinc oxide thin film, in which in the wet-etching step, zinc oxide having relatively low physical compactness is preferentially etched since the zinc oxide is positioned on the nano structure, and thus the prominence and depression structure is formed around the nano structure by the etching. The method is effective in that a thin film can be uniformly formed on the prominence and depression structure, and an electrolyte or an organic material may uniformly penetrate between the prominence and depression structure.

Abstract: A method of fabricating an Ag—(Cu—)In—Ga—Se (A(C)IGS) based thin film using Se—Ag2Se core-shell nanoparticles, an A(C)IGS based thin film fabricated by the method, and a tandem solar cell having the A(C)IGS thin film are disclosed. More particularly, a method of fabricating a densified Ag—(Cu—)In—Ga—Se (A(C)IGS) based thin film by non-vacuum coating a substrate with a slurry containing Se—Ag2Se core-shell nanoparticles, an A(C)IGS based thin film fabricated by the method, and a tandem solar cell including the A(C)IGS based thin film are disclosed. According to the present invention, an A(C)IGS based thin film including Ag is manufactured by applying Se—Ag2Se core-shell nanoparticles in a process of manufacturing a (C)IGS thin film, thereby providing an A(C)IGS based thin film having a wide band gap.

Abstract: Disclosed is an ultra-thin HIT solar cell, including: an n- or p-type crystalline silicon substrate; an amorphous silicon emitter layer having a doping type different from that of the silicon substrate; and an intrinsic amorphous silicon passivation layer formed between the crystalline silicon substrate and the amorphous silicon emitter layer, wherein the HIT solar cell further includes a transparent conductive oxide layer made of ZnO on an upper surface thereof, and the surface of the crystalline silicon substrate is not textured but only the surface of the transparent conductive oxide layer is textured, and thereby a very thin crystalline silicon substrate can be used, ultimately achieving an ultra-thin HIT solar cell having a very low total thickness while maintaining light trapping capacity.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of manufacturing a CI(G)S-based thin film, in which a slurry prepared by mixing two or more kinds of binary nanoparticles containing CI(G)S-based elements, a solution precursor containing a CI(G)S-based element, an alcoholic solvent and a chelating agent is used to reduce the carbon layer formed between the CI(G)S-based thin film and molybdenum, and which includes (a) mixing two or more kinds of binary nanoparticles containing CI(G)S-based elements, a solution precursor containing a CI(G)S-based element, an alcoholic solvent and a chelating agent, thus preparing a slurry; (b) subjecting the slurry to non-vacuum coating, thus forming a CI(G)S-based thin film; and (c) subjecting the CI(G)S-based thin film to selenization heat treatment.

Abstract: A CIGS solar cell having a flexible substrate based on improved supply of Na. The CIGS solar cell includes a substrate formed of a flexible material, a rear electrode formed on the substrate, a CIGS light-absorption layer formed on the rear electrode, a buffer layer formed on the CIGS light-absorption layer, and a front electrode formed on the buffer layer, wherein the rear electrode comprise a single-layered Na-added metal electrode layer. A single-layered Na-added Mo electrode layer, specific resistance of which is about 1/10th the specific resistance under conditions of a process of forming a typical multilayer rear electrode, is applied to the rear electrode, thereby providing a CIGS solar cell having a flexible substrate and high conversion efficiency.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for measurement of radiation intensity for testing reliability of a solar cell, and a method for testing the reliability of the solar cell. The apparatus includes a first solar cell receiving a predetermined intensity of radiation or more to generate electricity, a second solar cell receiving a predetermined intensity of radiation or more to generate electricity; a temperature sensor sensing a temperature of the second solar cell; a cooler cooling the first solar cell; and a controller measuring the intensity of radiation applied to the first solar cell, and controlling the cooler to prevent the temperature of the first solar cell from increasing above a predetermined temperature depending on the temperature of the second solar cell sensed by the temperature sensor.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a CZTS based thin film having a dual band gap slope, comprising the steps of: forming a Cu2ZnSnS4 thin film layer; forming a Cu2ZnSn(S,Se)4 thin film layer; and forming a Cu2ZnSnS4 thin film layer. A method for manufacturing a CZTS based solar cell having a dual band gap slope according to another aspect of the present invention comprises the steps of: forming a back contact; and forming a CZTS based thin film layer on the back contact by the method described above.

Abstract: Disclosed is a double-structure transparent conducting film having both excellent electrical characteristics and excellent light trapping performance, and a method of manufacturing the same. The double-structure transparent conducting film, which is used as a front antireflection film, a front electrode or a rear reflective film of a solar cell, includes: a light transmitting layer; and a light trapping layer whose one side is in contact with the light transmitting layer and whose other side is provided thereon with a surface textured structure; wherein the relationship of electrical conductivity A of the light transmitting layer and electrical conductivity a of the light trapping layer is A>a, and the relationship of etchability of the light transmitting layer and etchability of the light trapping layer is B<b.