IBM: Cheap Solar Cells from Abundant Materials

This is a breakthrough from IBM to be able to make solar technology becomes cheaper made from earth abundant materials. Solar cells will be cheaper than silicon-based solar cells or CIGS thin film.

The results of research by IBM researchers that published in the journal Advanced Materials explained that the layer material which will serve to absorb and convert sunlight into electricity is made with Copper (Cu), Tin (Sn), Zinc (Zn), sulfur (S) and / or Selenium (Se). These materials is available abundantly as compared with materials used in the CIGS thin film such as Copper (Cu), Indium (In), Gallium (Ga), and Selenium (Se).

In addition, the solar cells claimed to has conversion efficiency of 9.6 percent or 40 percent higher than previous similar experiments. IBM explained that this was an early road and they look forward to working with solar cell manufacturers to demonstrate this technology.