Professor Alivin Compaan, a Distinguished University Professor Emeritus in the Physics and Astronomy Department at The University of Toledo (UT), Toledo, Ohio, visited IEECAS on March 22, 2013.
With the title of “Ultrathin CdTe Solar Cells and Modules by Sputtering”, Prof. Compaan introduced their excellent work on conventional, flexible, ultrathin CdTe solar cells and modules etc. The conversation efficiency of their CdTe solar cells with CdTe thickness of 2.3 µm is 14% by using aluminosilicate glass and AZO as TCO films. The latest conversation efficiency of flexible CdTe solar cells on DuPont® clear Kapton substrate reaches 14%. Semitransparent mini-module with CdTe thickness of 350 nm with output efficiency of 7.5% has been realized. The incremental cost of such technology to insulating glass unit is only less than $0.40/Watt. All the audiences enjoyed Prof. Compaan’s novel and interesting topics.
Dr. Alvin Compaan has been leading a research effort for more than 25 years in thin-film photovoltaic materials and devices. His group has been funded by the National Renewable Energy Lab, the U.S. Dept. of Energy, the U.S. National Science Foundation, the U.S. Air Force, and the Ohio Department of Development.
