Capturing energy
The surge in demand for clean, renewable energy sources continues to drive the quest for ever more efficient photovoltaic (PV) solar cells. CIGS nanoparticle solar cells offer a solution to the problems of absorption wavelength and conversion efficiency that hamper the development of their conventional counterparts.
CIGS nanoparticle solar cells harness the light absorbing properties of these particles when they are exposed to the energy of the sun. Instead of allowing the energy to be emitted as light, a CIGS nanoparticle solar cell captures solar energy and converts it to electricity. They can even create electricity at low light levels because the nanoparticles are sensitive to even small amounts of solar energy.
CIGS nanoparticle solar cells provide two other enormous advantages over their traditional counterparts – flexibility and reduced production costs. Because only a thin layer of particles is required, solar cells can be incorporated into a versatile range of new environments, such as windows or car roofs. By adding them into inks and dyes, solar cells can for the first time be printed, which greatly reduces production costs.