Thin-Film Solar cells tagged posts

Dr Xiaojing Hao of UNSW’s Australian Centre for Advanced Photovoltaics holding the new CZTS solar cells. Credit: Quentin Jones/UNSW

‘Zero-energy’ buildings – which generate as much power as they consume – are now much closer after a team at UNSW, Australia achieved the world’s highest efficiency using flexible solar cells that are non-toxic and cheap to make. Until now, the promise of ‘zero-energy’ buildings been held back by 2 hurdles: the cost of the thin-film solar cells (used in façades, roofs and windows), and the fact they’re made from scarce, and highly toxic, materials.

NREL, USA’s National Renewable Energy Lab, confirmed this world leading 7.6% efficiency in a 1cm2 area CZTS cell this month...