Re-imagining photovoltaics manufacturing
A design-led approach to the sustainable manufacture of thin film solar cells.
Our aim
This collaborative project combines the expertise of Northumbria University's in slot-die coating and inkjet materials printing to create patterned and nature-inspired solar cells unlike anything available today. Loughborough University's contribution is in replacing carbon-intensive thermal processing with targeted laser annealing, which is a step commonly used in the manufacturing of inorganic thin-film solar cells. Together, we are working on manufacturing these solar cells on a wide range of substrates that allow aesthetic and economically viable integration of PV with products.
An important feature of this approach is its focus on sustainability. More specifically, we are targeting scalable, rapid and energy efficient manufacturing processes with low wastage and non-toxic materials. We will also assess the opportunity to recover and reuse valuable components of our solar cells as part of their end-of-life decommissioning.
Our research
CZTSSe absorber materials typically require a post-deposition high-temperature furnace annealing, which is essential for improving crystallinity and enhancing their electrical properties. A vital issue with thin films is the need to undergo an energy-intensive, relatively slow annealing process involving batch processing in a furnace. To address the challenges with this process stage, this work demonstrates an alternative strategy that offers rapid, localised heating of kesterite thin film using a continuous wave 808 nm diode laser. By controlling the laser's beam profile and carefully selecting processing parameters, such as power and ambient conditions, precise control over the annealing process was achieved. This led to improvements in the film's crystallinity and grain size, as confirmed through using Raman and SEM analysis.
Our outcomes
Click here to view all publications on the technical development of material deposition processes, laser annealing, and life cycle analysis.
Our sponsors
This work was supported by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council Grant Reimagining Photovoltaics Manufacturing (EP/W010062/1).