Electrodeposition route to synthesize cigs films – an economical way to harness solar energy

Abstract

Copper Indium Gallium Selenide has become one of the most highly promising absorber materials for thin film solar cells due
to its exceptional semiconductor characteristics. Various attempts have been made in the recent years to scale up the production
of these films. In this review the difficulty in scaling up of the existing technologies, the necessity of nano-particles of CIGS
for solar cells, how the charge separation in this nano scale photovoltaic (PV) materials occurs which help in absorption of
radiation, and the electro-deposition route, a low cost one, produces thin film solar cells are analyzed. The envisaged pulse
electro-deposition route will not only produce the required nano-scale CIGS films but also a route to large scale economical
production of thin films solar cells.