As an interdisciplinary research institute of the ETH Domain, Empa, the Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology, conducts cutting-edge materials and technology research. Our research and development activities focus on meeting the requirements of industry and the needs of society and thus link applications-oriented research to the practical implementation of new ideas in the areas of nanostructured, “smart” materials and surfaces, energy, sustainable building and environmental technologies as well as medical technology and solutions for personalized medicine. Empa employs more than 1000 staff, of which about 30% are female; about 250 are PhD students.

The mission of the Laboratory for Thin Films and Photovoltaics is to develop next-generation high-performance thin film solar cells, batteries and optoelectronic devices, novel functionalities and applications for an affordable energy-sustainable future, to provide impactful solutions for the benefit of industry and society. The laboratory holds the efficiency record for flexible CIGS solar cells with 22.2%, achieved on polymer foil substrate. The laboratory has also developed record bifacial CIGS solar cells on transparent back contact with 19.8% (front) and 10.9% (rear illumination) efficiency. Monolithically interconnected mini-modules have been developed with efficiencies close to 17% in collaboration with the spin-off company Flisom AG.

Empa will exploit its expertise with low-temperature absorber deposition processes within the SITA project to develop high-performance CIGSe solar cells with high bandgap on transparent contact, suitable for application as top cell in tandem devices. It will also contribute to developing monolithic interconnections of the new active layers with modified back contact and absorber composition. Empa also leads the WP6 dedicated to the project communication, dissemination and exploitation.