Solar Frontier K.K. has set a new world record for thin-film solar cell efficiency. In joint research with the National Research and Development Agency's New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization of Japan, Solar Frontier achieved 23.35% conversion efficiency on a 1cm² cell using cadmium (Cd)-free CIS technology. The result was independently verified by the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology.
This achievement was made through the research and development of such technologies as CIS absorber engineering and enhanced surface treatment of the absorber – used together with Solar Frontier's proprietary Cd-free CIS thin-film technology. Making performance improvements to each of the technologies, Solar Frontier reached its new world record by then combining these under optimal conditions. Solar Frontier expresses its gratitude to everyone for their cooperation in achieving this record, namely NEDO and AIST.
The conversion efficiency achieved here represents a 0.4 percentage point increase over the previous world record of 22.9% that Solar Frontier set for Cd-containing CIS thin-film solar cells in November 2017. The new mark sets a world record for all CIS thin-film solar cell types.