Thin Film and Photovoltaic Research Laboratory – Physics department University of Aveiro, Portugal
Home Research Interests Research Team Facilities & Techniques Projects and Collaborations Publications Job Openings Links		Research Interests The TFPV laboratory carries out research on: - Chalcopyrite and related thin film semiconductors for PV applications. The group is able to prepare fully operating thin film solar cells based on CuIn1-xGaxSe2 (CIGS). In this context, the group grows and characterizes all the layers needed: Mo/CIGS/CdS/i-ZnO/ZnO:Al or ITO. For the growth of the CIGS layer the group has developed a unique method combining evaporation with RF-magnetron sputtering; - The development of Cu2ZnSn(S1-xSex)4 (CZTS) as In free absorbers for thin film solar cells; - The development of Dye Sensitised Solar Cells (DSSCs) with efficiencies 9.6%; - The development of mini-modules based on DSSCs; - The development of Third Generation solar cells like hybrid bulk heterojunction solar cells based on ZnO, TiO2 nanostructures, carbon nanotubes and P3HT; - New materials and new concepts for solar cells: - New absorbers for thin film solar cells (ex: SnS, CTS, etc.); - New dyes for DSSCs in collaboration with LNEG and the Chemistry department, University of Aveiro; - DSSCs with carbon nanotube forests and ZnO tetrapods. Other interests pursued in the TFPV laboratory are: - Development of growth and characterization equipment for semiconductors; - Renewable Energies: - Solar Thermal Energy; - Concentrating systems; - PV systems. - Semiconductor devices in general; - Fuel Cells.