Relation between local mechanical fields and the degradation of CIGSe thin films based photovotaic solar cells

Chalcopyrite CIGSe thin film based photovoltaic solar cells still suffer from long-term stability. Several studies were conducted to identify the possible degradation modes. The chemical and thermal related degradation modes were extensively investigated through accelerated aging tests in conditions that mimic real operation environment. However, the relation between mechanical fields, residual strain and stress and their evolution during operation, have not been studied in the past. This proposal aims to study the impact of mechanical fields on the degradation of CIGSe solar cells. It will inform about the role of mechanical fields in the initiation of degradation and if there is any relation between the residual stress evolution during operation and the kinetics of degradation of the cell. This will be investigated by mechanical fields, strain and stress, measurement at the grain scale on non-degraded and degraded samples.