XsunX declared that the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) has confirmed the optimum conversion efficiency value of 16.36% for XsunX’s copper-indium-gallium-(di)selenide (CIGS) photovoltaic systems.
XsunX produces solar cells using its hybrid, thin-film photovoltaic (TFPV) solar cell production method called CIGSolar. During the tests, the NREL observed that conversion efficiency of the samples varied between 15.3% and 16.36%, resulting in an average conversion efficacy of 15.91%. The tested samples were a portion of a 125 mm substrate that was broken down into quadrants after deposition to form NREL analytical equipment test patterns and device test patternss.
XsunX’s proprietary technology uses co-evaporation to effectively control the complex CIGS layer deposition method by quickly depositing final-sized cells. The method starts and ends by utilizing individual substrates with sizes equivalent to that of silicon cells. It eliminates performance failures that occur when cells are either incompatible electrically in monolithic assemblies or sliced from rolls of CIGS material, and offers more accurate and smaller deposition environment.
XsunX’s Chief Technical Officer, Robert Wendt commented that the certified measurement of 16.36% by NREL complements the company’s production method and the feasibility of single cell processing. The company expects that the efficacy levels attained would allow it to offer a cost-effective feasible process to the market, he added.
The Chief Executive Officer at XsunX, Tom Djokovich stated that NREL’s certified measurements confirm that compact area co-evaporation delivers the required conversion efficacies to contend with silicon. The company is excited about the prospects for its CIGSolar technology, he added.