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 distributed generation system and method of using a rental article having a flexible thin film solar cell are disclosed. The distributed generation system of a rental article using a flexible thin film solar cell can include: a rental article which generates electric energy from collected solar energy; and a station which is positioned in a space for renting and returning the rental article, and distributes and transmits electric energy provided from the rental article to a power demand target.

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 solar cell is provided that increases a rate of sunlight absorbed into a photoelectric conversion layer by forming a transparent conductive layer into a plurality of layers having different oxygen contents and different light absorption coefficients, and a manufacturing method thereof. The solar cell includes a substrate, a transparent conductive layer, and a photoelectric conversion layer. The transparent conductive layer includes a first layer having a first light absorption coefficient, and a second layer formed on the first layer and having a second light absorption coefficient higher than the first light absorption coefficient.

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: 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: 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 thin-film solar cell having a first solar cell layer with a plurality of unit cells including a photoelectric conversion layer that are connected in series; a second solar cell layer with a plurality of unit cells including a photoelectric conversion layer that are connected in series, and that has band gap energy different from the first solar cell layer and a threshold voltage coincident with the first solar cell layer; and an electrode connector, that connects the first solar cell layer with the second solar cell layer in parallel.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a photovoltaic device through a lateral crystallization process and a fabrication method thereof, and in particular to a high efficiency solar cell module and a fabrication method thereof. The present invention comprises a first solar cell having an amorphous silicon layer formed on a first substrate, a second solar cell having a microcrystalline silicon semiconductor layer formed on a second substrate, and a junction layer junctioning the first solar cell and the second solar cell, making it possible to obtain a solar cell with high efficiency, low fabricating costs, high product characteristic, and high reliability.

Abstract: Disclosed are a method for manufacturing a thin-film type solar cell and a thin-film type solar cell obtained thereby that uses a direct printing method and reduces the frequency of a cutting process.