Third-generation Cu-In-Ga-(S, Se)-based solar inverters

This paper reviews literature data on thin-film solar cells with absorber layers based on quaternary copper compounds Cu-In-Ga-(S, Se) (CIGS). The paper considers methods of preparation of CIGS layers and discusses the chemical composition, design features, and operating principles of CIGS-based solar cells. The bulk of the recent literature reveals how research in the field is starting to change: important results are being obtained by numerically simulating processes in thin-film solar cells; element concentration gradients in the CIGS structure, spatially nonuniform bandgap energy distribution, and layer grain boundaries are receiving increasing research attention for their respective roles, and the number of kinetic studies is increasing.