Optimising solar cells an cutting their production costs

Dr. Eveline Rudigier from the Hahn-Meitner-Institut Berlin demonstrated in her PhD thesis how the production of solar cells can be improved. The 32-year-old young researcher received the Shell-She-Study Award for her work. "Previously, the optimisation of thin-film solar cells was above all based on experience," reports Rudigier. "But we need a deeper understanding for industrial production." This is why she studied the phase formation of the complex material copper-indium-sulphide (CIS) system and showed how the quality of light-absorbing layers is connected with the quality of the final solar cells. "Eventually, I was able to demonstrate that the process can also be controlled during the production stage by means of raman spectroscopy." This non-destructive method reduces the rejection rate, raises the yield and so is also of great economic interest. As a result, Eveline Rudigier was able to register a patent for this application.