U.S.-Mexico Cooperative Research: Thin-Film Materials for Photovoltaics

9901383Compaan这个美国-墨西哥奖项将支持俄亥俄州托莱多大学的Alvin D.Compaan教授与墨西哥国家理工学院(IPN)的Gerardo Contrera-Puente教授合作进行为期三年的光伏薄膜材料研究。这项广泛的研究工作从薄膜生长和器件制造，到复合材料的光电性能表征和电学性能研究。该项目将汇集经验丰富的研究团队，并在CdTe太阳能电池方面提供互补设施。经济研究得出结论，太阳能电池在户外环境中应该能持续20到30年，才能达到成本效益。该领域的长期退化是利用太阳能光伏为世界提供可持续能源的重大挑战。这项研究的结果应该向太阳能薄膜电池制造社区提出建议，以进行结构改变和工艺改进，从而提高电池和组件的高温稳定性。反过来，这将延长太阳能电池的寿命，并提供更具成本效益的能源。

9901383CompaanThis US-Mexico award will support Professor Alvin D. Compaan, of the University of Toledo, Ohio in a research collaboration with Professor Gerardo Contreras-Puente, of the National Polytechnic Institute (IPN), Mexico in a three year study of thin-film materials for photovoltaics. The extensive research effort ranges from film growth and fabrication of devices, to characterization of optical-electronic properties of complex materials and electrical performance studies.This project will bring together experienced teams of researchers with complementary facilities in CdTe solar cells. Economic studies conclude that solar cells should last 20 to 30 years in an outdoor environment to be cost effective. Long term degradation in the field is a major challenge for the use of solar photovoltaics to provide the world with a sustainable source of energy. Results of this study should produce recommendations to the solar thin-film cell fabrication community for structural changes and processing improvements that will enable improved high temperature stability of cells and modules. This, in turn, will enhance the length of solar cell life and provide a more cost effective energy source.***