Bulletin No. 2, 2011

18   Chinese University Bulletin No. 2, 2011 Greening Home and Society A technology that evolved in the laboratory has to go through many adjustments and rounds of testing before it can be commercially exploited. The University provides support to this long process in various ways. A research team led by Prof. Xiao Xudon g and Prof. Li Quan of the Department of Physics developed a low-cost, high-efficiency Cu(InGa) Se2 (CIGS) thin-film solar cell. Its conversion efficiency of 17% is the highest among the same kind of solar cell in the greater China region and reaches world-class level. CIGS cells are fabricated by depositing multilayer thin film materials of 1/200 mm in thickness on low- cost substrates such as glass, plastic and metal foil. The cells generate electricity even in cloudy weather and dim light. The cells, if made into transparent solar cells to clothe the outer glass walls of commercial buildings, can cover about 60% of electricity consumption for a 20 -storey commercial building. Professor Xiao and Professor Li said, ‘CIGS solar cells have the highest efficiency among various types of thin-film solar cells. And compared to crystalline solar cells, they’re 50 times thinner and cost 50% less to produce.’ CIGS solar cells can also be integrated into consumer produc t s such as backpack s, handbags, tents, and sunshades for charging electronic products. A CIGS solar cell the size of Prof. Xiao Xudong Prof. Li Quan The University’s Third Mission