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Recently, a significant breakthrough in solar cell technology was achieved by Japan's Solar Frontier, in collaboration with IBM from the United States and Tokyo Yinghua Industry Co., Ltd. Together, they developed a miniature CZTS (Copper Zinc Tin Sulfide) solar cell with an active area of just 0.42 cm², achieving a record-breaking conversion efficiency of 12.6%. This marks a major leap forward for micro-scale CZTS solar cells, surpassing the previous world record of 11.1%, set by a research team in August 2012.
The improved performance was achieved through enhancements in the optical absorption layer of Cu₂ZnSnSₓSe₄₋ₓ (CZTSSe), as well as optimized optical structures. The newly developed cell demonstrated impressive electrical characteristics: an open-circuit voltage of 513.4 mV, a short-circuit current density of 35.2 mA/cm², and a fill factor of 69.8%. These results were independently verified by Newport Corporation, a leading provider of photovoltaic testing equipment in the U.S.
CZTS solar cells are a type of thin-film compound semiconductor solar cell made from abundant and low-cost materials—copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), tin (Sn), sulfur (S), and selenium (Se). Unlike CIGS (Copper Indium Gallium Selenide) cells, which are currently mass-produced by Solar Frontier, CZTS cells do not rely on rare or expensive elements like indium (In) or gallium (Ga). This makes them a more sustainable and cost-effective alternative for future large-scale solar applications.
Solar Frontier has been actively working to improve the efficiency of CZTS cells, aiming to make them viable for mass production at lower costs. With this latest achievement, the company is one step closer to commercializing a next-generation solar technology that could significantly reduce the environmental impact of renewable energy systems.
In addition, it's worth noting that the world's highest efficiency for CIGS solar cells was previously recorded at 20.8% by the German Solar Energy and Hydrogen Research Center (ZSW) in late October 2013. This highlights the ongoing competition and innovation in the solar industry, where both CZTS and CIGS technologies continue to push the boundaries of what's possible in photovoltaics.
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