Enhancing efficiency of photovoltaic cells by optimizations of their thin films

加拿大目前消耗600太瓦时（1太瓦时= 100000000千瓦时（kWh），这通常被称为交付给消费者的能源计费单位）的电力，成本为350亿美元。加拿大还出口其主要能源生产的50%以上。目前的能源资源，如石油，天然气和煤炭将在几十年内耗尽，燃烧这些所谓的化石燃料给我们带来了气候和环境变化的挑战，如全球变暖和非常严重的污染。太阳能是清洁的，也是最强大的替代能源。地球上一个小时的阳光，相当于全球一年的能源消耗。然而，太阳能电池或光伏（PV）电池，即吸收太阳能并将太阳能转换为电能的设备，其太阳能转换为电能的转换效率仅为20%，且制造成本高昂。本提案旨在利用加拿大丰富的化学元素，如铜、锌、铟、硒和硫，制造薄膜光伏电池，以利用太阳能为可再生能源。我们将开发在柔性不锈钢箔（SSF，片或卷）上的低成本PV电池，易于安装在屋顶上，并具有较长的耐用性。 该项目将我们正在申请专利的太阳光吸收材料低温一锅电沉积技术扩展到最佳性能和最低成本。光伏电池预计将产生超过14%的太阳能。在三年内，该战略项目将提供15 cm x 15 cm SSF片或宽度为30 cm的卷的光伏电池原型。该战略项目将为加拿大带来以下惠益：（a）创造财富，包括生产光电产品的新的初创企业;这些新的初创企业价值链中的新业务;新的和有吸引力的就业机会;以及新的可再生能源;及（B）健康及环境效益包括与建议书中所解释的绿色制造考虑因素有关的健康及环境效益，以及引入绿色可再生能源以减少不可再生能源消耗、未来100年全球变暖潜势（GWP 100）和其他环境负荷。

Canada currently consumes 600 terawatt-hours (1 terawatt-hour=1000,000,000 kilowatt-hours (kWh), which is most commonly known as a billing unit for energy delivered to consumers) of electricity with a cost of $35 billion. Canada also exports over 50% of its primary energy production. Present energy resources such as oil, gas and coal will run out in a few decades, and burning these so-called fossil fuels brings us challenges in climate and environment changes, such as global warming and very serious pollutions. Solar energy is clean and the most powerful alternative. One hour sun-light on earth covers one year global energy consumption. However, solar cells or photovoltaic (PV) cells, devices that absorber the sunlight, and convert this solar energy to electricity, reach only 20% sunlight-to-electricity conversion efficiency at high fabrication price.This proposal addresses our strategies of making thin film PV cells for renewable energy from the sun, using rich chemical elements in Canada such as Copper, Zinc, Indium, Selenium and sulphur. We will develop low-cost PV cells on flexible stainless steel foils (SSF, pieces or rolls), which are easy to install on roof tops, and have a long durability. This project extends our patent-pending technology of low-temperature one-pot electrodeposition of sunlight absorber materials to the best performance and at lowest cost. The PV cell is expected to generate greater than 14% solar energy. Within three years, the strategic project will deliver prototypes of PV cells in 15 cm x 15 cm pieces of SSF or rolls with a width of 30 cm. The strategic project will lead to the following benefits to Canada: (a) Wealth creation including new start-ups to produce the PV products; new business in the value chain of these new start-ups; new and attractive employment opportunities;and new sources of renewable energy; and (b) The health and environmental benefits include those associated with the green manufacturing considerations explained in the proposal, and with the introduction of green renewable energy sources to reduce non-renewable energy consumption, global warming potential in the next 100 years (GWP100), and other environmental loads.