Back | Blog posts overview
Molybdenum slims solar panels
Imagine hiking through a remote wilderness, using a lightweight, bendable solar panel on a backpack to charge your phone. Or imagine aircraft that use sunlight to reduce reliance on fuel. The lightweight technology that makes this possible, known as a copper-indium-gallium-selenide (CIGS) thin-film, is pushing solar energy into places conventional silicon cannot reach. CIGS relies on a micrometer-thin layer of molybdenum, applied with atomic precision, that enables performance in the harshest conditions, from disaster zones to deep space.
© Sceye
Imagine hiking through a remote wilderness, using a lightweight, bendable solar panel on a backpack to charge your phone. Or imagine aircraft that use sunlight to reduce reliance on fuel. The lightweight technology that makes this possible, known as a copper-indium-gallium-selenide (CIGS) thin-film, is pushing solar energy into places conventional silicon cannot reach. CIGS relies on a micrometer-thin layer of molybdenum, applied with atomic precision, that enables performance in the harshest conditions, from disaster zones to deep space.
The vast majority of solar panels use silicon wafers, which produce electricity when struck by visible light. Silicon modules are so popular because mass production has made them highly efficient and cost-effective. However, they are also bulky, heavy, and fragile. Thin-film modules, in contrast, are up to 20 times thinner and significantly lighter. They can also be flexible, even bendable, depending on the substrate. They perform better than silicon in low light conditions, including on cloudy days, in late afternoon, or in shaded urban environments.
These versatile attributes open a new range of surfaces where electricity can be generated: on specialty aircraft like drones, weather balloons, and satellites, on building envelopes, even personal camping gear like tents and backpacks. For example, a solar research facility in Berlin produces over 30,000 kilowatt-hours of electricity a year – enough to power multiple homes – using CIGS panels seamlessly integrated into its façade. In disaster relief efforts, foldable solar sheets based on CIGS technology can provide essential power for lighting, communications, and refrigeration. Similarly, thin-films on car roofs help extend driving range for electric vehicles by charging while in motion. In each case, a microscopic layer of molybdenum is integral to the design.
Discover more about molybdenum’s role in CIGS thin-film technology here.
Back | Blog posts overview
