IBM and TOK team on CIGS thin-film materials and processes; target 15% efficiencies

Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Reddit
Email

Continuing
its strategy to leverage semiconductor and related technologies to the
photovoltaics industry, IBM has said that IBM Research is targeting 15
percent plus conversion efficiencies for CIGS solar cell modules.
Current CIGS thin-film cells achieve efficiencies in the range of 8 to
12 percent.

To reach its stated efficiency goals, IBM has teamed with Tokyo Ohka Kogyo (TOK), a specialist chemicals company known well for photoresist materials used in lithography processes.

This article requires Premium SubscriptionBasic (FREE) Subscription

Unlock unlimited access for 12 whole months of distinctive global analysis

Photovoltaics International is now included.

Not ready to commit yet?
  • Regular insight and analysis of the industry’s biggest developments
  • In-depth interviews with the industry’s leading figures
  • Unlimited digital access to the PV Tech Power journal catalogue
  • Unlimited digital access to the Photovoltaics International journal catalogue
  • Access to more than 1,000 technical papers
  • Discounts on Solar Media’s portfolio of events, in-person and virtual

Or continue reading this article for free

“Our goal is to develop more efficient photovoltaic structures that would reduce the cost, minimize the complexity, and improve the flexibility of producing solar electric power,” said Dr. Tze-Chiang Chen, IBM Vice President of Science and Technology, IBM Research. “Now, IBM’s advanced technology combined with TOK’s expertise in equipment design and manufacture, have the potential to broaden the use of alternative energy sources.”

Yoichi Nakamura, President and Chief Executive Officer of TOK, said, “We believe that this joint development is a great opportunity to expand the applications of our technologies into the photovoltaic industry, bringing a new solid business block for us.”

The two companies are developing new, non-vacuum, solution-based manufacturing processes for CIGS that include equipment and materials.
 

Read Next

September 2, 2025
Q Energy has reached financial close for Taurus B, a portfolio of seven solar PV plants in Spain with a combined capacity of 251.71MWp.
September 2, 2025
The Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems (ISE) will build a pilot solar cell line in Germany to support US manufacturer Talon PV’s efforts to establish solar cell capacity in the US.
September 2, 2025
Spanish construction firm GES (Global Energy Services) has secured a contract to build a roughly 700MW solar-wind-storage hybrid project in Chile.
September 2, 2025
Ingeteam has supplied its INGECON SUN 3Power Series C liquid-cooled central PV inverters for a 640MW solar PV plant in Texas.
September 2, 2025
SMA Solar has forecast financial losses and further restructuring measures in 2025, as it responds to falling sales and a “challenging” market for residential and commercial renewable energy installations.
September 2, 2025
Swedish independent power producer (IPP) OX2 has appointed Matthias Taft as its new chief executive officer.

Subscribe to Newsletter

Upcoming Events

Solar Media Events
September 16, 2025
Athens, Greece
Solar Media Events
September 30, 2025
Seattle, USA
Solar Media Events
October 1, 2025
London, UK
Solar Media Events
October 2, 2025
London,UK
Solar Media Events
October 7, 2025
Manila, Philippines