 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
|
CIGS SOLAR CELLS
Flexible CIGS Solar Cells Pass the IEC Standard for Damp Heat Test
SAN JOSE, Calif., Jun. 12, 2008 – Vitex Systems, Inc., a leading technology developer, licensor and
engineering service provider for thin-film encapsulation and moisture barrier films, today announced a key
breakthrough in protecting flexible copper indium gallium selenide (CIGS) solar cells against moisture and
oxygen. The efficiency of flexible CIGS solar cells laminated with Vitex’s Flexible Glass remained
unchanged after being tested in extremely high temperatures and high humidity for over 1,100 hours.
With CIGS’ potential for being produced using a low cost, roll-to-roll manufacturing process, it has
quickly become one of the most promising thin-film photovoltaic technologies. However, similar to
cadmium telluride (CdTe) cells, CIGS is also sensitive to moisture and oxygen. Commercially available
flexible CIGS solar cells only have a guaranteed lifetime of two to three years because testing shows that
their efficiencies degrade quickly in high-temperature and high-humidity environments. Some
manufacturers have demonstrated that the use of rigid glass in the final modules extends product
lifetime. However, there are added weight, costs (not only production, but also shipping and installation
costs) and loss of flexibility when working with such rigid packaging.
The CIGS solar cells that achieved the lifetime record of over 1,100 hours were made on stainless-steel
foil and laminated with Vitex’s Flexible Glass 200 with a proprietary lamination process. With a total
thickness of approximately 0.3 mm, the module was lightweight, flexible and unbreakable. According to
the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) 61646 standard, the samples were subject to a damp
heat test at 85 degrees Celsius (C) and a relative humidity (RH) of 85 percent for over 1,000 hours. After
testing at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), the CIGS cells maintained more than 98 percent
of their original efficiency after 1,100 hours — exceeding the requirements of IEC’s 61646 standard. The
tests are continuing at PNNL to determine the ultimate lifetime of these devices.
Commenting on these results, Chyi-Shan Suen, director of business development for Vitex, said “Our
internal test extended to more than 4,000 hours under such damp heat testing. As a result, we were
able to maintain about 80 percent of the cell’s original performance. These results were obtained on
samples we created in the very beginning without much optimization. While more work still needs to be
done, we are very pleased with these initial results.”
Vitex is actively looking for licensees to manufacture and commercialize Flexible Glass 200 films to make
them more widely available for all solar-cell manufacturers.
About Vitex Systems
Vitex Systems, Inc., headquartered in San Jose, Calif., licenses a proprietary encapsulation solution,
Barix™, as well as deposition systems and next-generation flexible barrier substrates, that enable the
cost-effective production of organic light-emitting diode (OLED) displays that are lighter and thinner than
any other commercially available displays. Vitex's technology can also be used to address a wide array of
photovoltaic and optoelectronic applications. The company was incubated at Battelle, the world's largest
independent private non-profit research foundation, and was spun off as an independent company.
For more information on Vitex Systems, visit www.vitexsys.com.
Contacts:
Chyi-Shan Suen
Vitex Systems, Inc.
Phone: 408.325.0366
Fax: 408.519.4470
Email: csuen@vitexsys.com
<< Return to Press Release Index
Flexible CIGS Solar Cells Pass the IEC Standard for Damp Heat Test
SAN JOSE, Calif., Jun. 12, 2008 – Vitex Systems, Inc., a leading technology developer, licensor and
engineering service provider for thin-film encapsulation and moisture barrier films, today announced a key
breakthrough in protecting flexible copper indium gallium selenide (CIGS) solar cells against moisture and
oxygen. The efficiency of flexible CIGS solar cells laminated with Vitex’s Flexible Glass remained
unchanged after being tested in extremely high temperatures and high humidity for over 1,100 hours.
With CIGS’ potential for being produced using a low cost, roll-to-roll manufacturing process, it has
quickly become one of the most promising thin-film photovoltaic technologies. However, similar to
cadmium telluride (CdTe) cells, CIGS is also sensitive to moisture and oxygen. Commercially available
flexible CIGS solar cells only have a guaranteed lifetime of two to three years because testing shows that
their efficiencies degrade quickly in high-temperature and high-humidity environments. Some
manufacturers have demonstrated that the use of rigid glass in the final modules extends product
lifetime. However, there are added weight, costs (not only production, but also shipping and installation
costs) and loss of flexibility when working with such rigid packaging.
The CIGS solar cells that achieved the lifetime record of over 1,100 hours were made on stainless-steel
foil and laminated with Vitex’s Flexible Glass 200 with a proprietary lamination process. With a total
thickness of approximately 0.3 mm, the module was lightweight, flexible and unbreakable. According to
the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) 61646 standard, the samples were subject to a damp
heat test at 85 degrees Celsius (C) and a relative humidity (RH) of 85 percent for over 1,000 hours. After
testing at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), the CIGS cells maintained more than 98 percent
of their original efficiency after 1,100 hours — exceeding the requirements of IEC’s 61646 standard. The
tests are continuing at PNNL to determine the ultimate lifetime of these devices.
Commenting on these results, Chyi-Shan Suen, director of business development for Vitex, said “Our
internal test extended to more than 4,000 hours under such damp heat testing. As a result, we were
able to maintain about 80 percent of the cell’s original performance. These results were obtained on
samples we created in the very beginning without much optimization. While more work still needs to be
done, we are very pleased with these initial results.”
Vitex is actively looking for licensees to manufacture and commercialize Flexible Glass 200 films to make
them more widely available for all solar-cell manufacturers.
About Vitex Systems
Vitex Systems, Inc., headquartered in San Jose, Calif., licenses a proprietary encapsulation solution,
Barix™, as well as deposition systems and next-generation flexible barrier substrates, that enable the
cost-effective production of organic light-emitting diode (OLED) displays that are lighter and thinner than
any other commercially available displays. Vitex's technology can also be used to address a wide array of
photovoltaic and optoelectronic applications. The company was incubated at Battelle, the world's largest
independent private non-profit research foundation, and was spun off as an independent company.
For more information on Vitex Systems, visit www.vitexsys.com.
Contacts:
Chyi-Shan Suen
Vitex Systems, Inc.
Phone: 408.325.0366
Fax: 408.519.4470
Email: csuen@vitexsys.com
<< Return to Press Release Index
| Vitex Achieves Lifetime Record for Flexible Solar Cell |