High Efficiency Flexible Solar Cells Based on CIGS and CdTe Thin Films (Printed Electronics & Photovoltaics Europe 2010)

 

Ayodhya N. Tiwari is the Head of the Laboratory for Thin Films and Photovoltaics, EMPA (Swiss Federal Laboratories for Material Testing and Research) Dubendorf, Switzerland, and a visiting Professor in the Department of Electronic and Electrical Engineering, Loughborough University, UK. After finishing his Ph D from the Indian Institute of Technology Delhi, India, he joined ETH Zurich in 1988 where he established a research group on Photovoltaics. His research lab has recently relocated from ETH Zurich to EMPA Dubendorf. He has more than 28 years of R&D experience in various photovoltaic technologies. He is a co-author of more than 150 research publications and about 210 conference presentations including numerous invited papers and talks. He has co-chaired or co-organised several international conferences/symposiums, co-edited special issues of leading journals, is serving on the editorial board of the Progress in Photovoltaics journal. He has been advisor to various institutions and PV-Expert delegation member of the EU and other agencies. He is a co-founder and Chairman of FLISOM AG, Swiss company involved in production of monolithically connected flexible CIGS solar modules. Dr. Tiwari is a co-recipient of several awards and recognitions, his 7 students have won young scientist and other awards at international conferences for innovative research in CIGS and CdTe thin film solar cells.

EMPA (Swiss Federal Laboratories for Material Testing and Research)is an interdisciplinary research and services institution to meet the requirements of industry and the needs of our society, and it links together applications-oriented research and the practical implementation of new ideas. The Laboratory for Thin Films and Photovoltaics has recently relocated from ETH Zurich. Dr. Ayodhya N. Tiwari has been leading the PV group involved in the R&D of thin film solar cells based on compound semiconductors. The group has made several important contributions in the field of CIGS and CdTe thin film solar cells on glass and flexible substrates including the achievement of 14.1% efficiency (highest efficiency record for any type of solar cell grown on polymer film) flexible CIGS solar cell on polymide film and 11.4% record high efficiency for flexible CdTe solar cells. Other innovative developments include flexible CIGS solar cells on low cost aluminium foil, application of simple and safe non-vacuum CIGS deposition processes, high efficiency multi-junction (tandem) solar cells based on CIGS, CdTe, and Dye sensitized solar cells. The lab is involved in collaborative and industrial research, and technology transfer to start-up companies.