Large-area module with over 21% efficiency prepared at low cost by Jinan University

Recently, Professor Mai Yaohua's team at the Institute of New Energy Technology of Jinan University has used a low-cost nanosecond laser to achieve the preparation of large-area calcium-titanium oxide photovoltaic modules with an efficiency of over 21%. The related research was published in Advanced Energy Materials.

In the industrialisation of chalcogenide photovoltaic modules, the efficiency loss from small-area cells to large-area modules is one of the most critical technical issues to be addressed. So far, the industry has been inconclusive as to whether the manufacture of high-efficiency chalcogenide photovoltaic modules requires the use of costly picosecond or femtosecond lasers.

To this end, Mai Yaohua's team has used a low-cost nanosecond laser to produce high-performance chalcogenide photovoltaic modules. It was shown that the nanosecond laser did not cause a large heat affected zone on the chalcogenide material due to its small thermal diffusion coefficient and could achieve a geometric fill factor of up to 95.5%.

After parameter optimisation, the aperture area efficiency of the chalcogenide PV module can reach 21.07% and the fill factor exceeds 80%. The above results were certified by the National Photovoltaic Industry Measurement and Testing Centre.

The research results provide guidance to reduce the efficiency loss of large-area chalcogenide PV modules, while reducing equipment investment and production costs, which is of great significance to promote the industrialisation of chalcogenide cells.