Emerging inorganic solar cell efficiency tables (Version 1)

Abstract

This paper presents the Efficiency Tables of materials considered as emerging inorganic absorbers for photovoltaic solar cell technologies. The materials collected in these Tables are selected based on their progress in recent years, and their demonstrated potential as future photovoltaic absorbers. The first part of the paper consists of the guidelines for the inclusion of the different technologies in this paper, the verification means used by the authors, and recommendation for measurement best practices. The second part details the highest world-class certified solar cell efficiencies, and the highest non-certified cases (some independently confirmed). The third part highlights the new entries including the record efficiencies, as well as new materials included in this version of the Tables. The final part is dedicated to review a specific aspect of materials research that the authors consider of high relevance for the scientific community. In this version of the Efficiency Tables, we are including an overview of the latest progress in theoretical methods for modelling of new photovoltaic absorber materials expected to be synthesized and confirmed in the near future. We hope that this Emerging Inorganic Solar Cell Efficiency Tables (Version 1) paper, as well as its future versions, will advance the field of emerging photovoltaic solar cells by summarizing the progress to date and outlining the future promising research directions.