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Testing film solar cells

EMPIR project <link research-innovation search-research-projects details>Hybrid metrology for thin films in energy applications (16ENG03 Hymet) will develop new capabilities to assess thin film performance to aid their deployment in novel energy applications such as thin film solar cells.

Although the project is still only in the first year of three, the consortium has developed a new facility that was recently installed at NPL and is already offering services to companies in the energy sector. The new facility has been designed to characterise the performance and durability of thin films in energy applications.

These samples can be sensitive because they can degrade quickly in normal atmosphere. The new facility keeps the samples in a well controlled environment to avoid unwanted exposure to air and humidity.

This facility, along with others currently being developed in the project, will aid the development of new, innovative energy technologies based on thin films, in turn supporting progress towards energy efficiency and renewable energy targets.

This EMPIR project is co-funded by the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme and the EMPIR Participating States.