The solar energy landscape has witnessed tremendous advancements over the past few decades, with thin-film photovoltaic (PV) technologies standing out for their potential to revolutionize energy generation. Among these technologies, copper indium gallium sulfo-selenide (CIGS) and metal halide perovskite solar cells have been pivotal in shaping the industry’s trajectory. Recent research revisits the journey of CIGS solar cells, examining the lessons they offer to accelerate progress in perovskite photovoltaics. This reflection is not merely nostalgic but serves as a strategic blueprint to navigate the complexities hindering widespread adoption of next-generation solar technologies.
CIGS solar cells emerged from decades of rigorous scientific exploration and engineering refinement. Their attributes, including a favorable bandgap, high absorption coefficient, and mechanical flexibility, positioned them as promising candidates for lightweight, versatile solar modules. Despite achieving considerable efficiency milestones, CIGS struggled in large-scale manufacturing environments. The challenges were multifaceted, encompassing difficulties in maintaining material uniformity, complex deposition techniques, and the intricate interplay between materials chemistry and device architecture. These obstacles contributed to a delay in commercial adoption, emphasizing the necessity of aligning materials research with scalable production strategies.
On the other side of the spectrum, metal halide perovskite solar cells have garnered intense interest for their rapid climb in efficiency, outpacing many established photovoltaics shortly after inception. This meteoric rise, however, has been shadowed by concerns regarding stability, manufacturability, and integration into existing industrial frameworks. Perovskites are particularly vulnerable to environmental factors such as moisture, heat, and ultraviolet light, which can trigger degradation pathways, undermining device longevity. Researchers are actively developing novel compositional engineering and encapsulation techniques to enhance durability, learning from the hard-earned experiences recorded by their thin-film predecessors.
The comparative analysis of CIGS and perovskites underscores the critical need for holistic approaches in thin-film PV development. CIGS’s journey vividly illustrates how interdependence among materials properties, device design decisions, and manufacturing methodologies can make or break the transition from laboratory innovation to commercial success. For perovskites, a similar synchronization must be established early on. Innovations in material chemistry must be paired seamlessly with scalable fabrication processes that preserve efficiency while ensuring long-term stability in real-world conditions.
One striking aspect of the CIGS experience was the complexity of its deposition processes, such as co-evaporation and sputtering, which demanded exceedingly precise control over elemental ratios and growth conditions. These meticulous requirements often limited throughput and elevated production costs, hindering widespread deployment. For perovskite solar cells to evade such pitfalls, researchers are pioneering solution processing and low-temperature fabrication methods that promise compatibility with large-area manufacturing and flexible substrates. However, the trade-off between simplicity of processing and device performance remains a delicate balance to strike.
Long-term operational stability emerged as a fundamental challenge for both technologies, albeit manifested differently. While CIGS devices exhibited commendable lifetimes under various stress tests, the path to such robustness was iterative and arduous. Perovskites, with their inherently unstable crystal lattice subjected to ionic migration and photochemical reactions, demand innovative strategies to suppress intrinsic degradation mechanisms. Multilayer passivation, compositional tuning, and interface engineering are among the advanced techniques being deployed to curtail the vulnerabilities of perovskite absorbers and charge transport layers.
In addition to material and device considerations, the scale-up of fabrication presents systemic challenges that CIGS solar cells also faced. The conversion from small-scale laboratory cells to modules capable of end-use power generation exposed issues such as uniform layer deposition over large areas, maintaining interface integrity, and ensuring reproducibility. Recognizing these challenges early on allowed CIGS developers to refine production equipment and optimize workflows, though not without substantial time and investment. This experience sends a clear message to perovskite researchers: industrial feasibility must be a co-equal focus alongside performance metrics.
Environmental and economic factors also weigh heavily on the future viability of thin-film photovoltaics. The sustainability footprint of complex manufacturing techniques, the availability and toxicity of precursor materials, and lifecycle considerations form an integral part of commercialization pathways. CIGS technologies had to navigate concerns regarding the use of rare elements like indium and gallium, as well as selenium compounds. Perovskites, while benefiting from more abundant constituents, still face scrutiny over lead content and recycling protocols, necessitating parallel research on lead-free formulations and environmentally responsible disposal methods.
The ongoing dialogue between historical thin-film technologies and emergent materials like perovskites offers fertile ground for interdisciplinary innovation. By dissecting the myriad factors that governed CIGS solar cell development, researchers can formulate strategies that anticipate and preempt challenges in perovskite research. This includes early adoption of robust testing standards, collaborative engagement between academia and industry, and system-level thinking that covers every stage from material synthesis to module deployment.
Moreover, the narrative of CIGS highlights the importance of aligning policy frameworks and market incentives with technological advancements. Despite promising laboratory results, commercial uptake requires a conducive ecosystem where incentives for investment, standardization of certification, and infrastructure for mass production converge. Perovskite photovoltaics, with their unique opportunities and vulnerabilities, will benefit immensely from such integrated approaches that blend science, engineering, and policy into coherent development roadmaps.
The lesson is clear: innovation in photovoltaic technology must transcend incremental improvements and embrace a systemic perspective that integrates performance, stability, manufacturability, and economic viability from inception. The remarkable strides of perovskites are encouraging but incomplete without addressing these intertwined facets. Drawing upon the CIGS experience, researchers and industry stakeholders are encouraged to synchronize efforts, fostering a collaborative environment where advances in one domain support progress in others.
In conclusion, the historical wisdom embedded in the evolution of CIGS solar cells provides an invaluable template for guiding perovskite photovoltaics toward sustainable, scalable, and impactful implementation. By learning from past successes and obstacles, the photovoltaic community is better equipped to forge a deliberate path, minimizing avoidable risks and accelerating the realization of flexible, efficient, and durable solar technologies. The future of perovskites, therefore, hinges not just on the breakthroughs yet to come but on a reflective understanding of lessons already learned.
As the global demand for renewable energy escalates, the imperative to develop PV technologies that are not only high-performing but also adaptable and economically viable becomes undeniable. The juxtaposition of CIGS and perovskite research trajectories serves as a beacon, illuminating the multifaceted challenges ahead and inspiring a synergistic approach that capitalizes on past insights to innovate responsibly. The convergence of material science, engineering ingenuity, and industrial pragmatism heralds a promising era for thin-film photovoltaics that could transform the energy landscape.
Ultimately, the success of perovskite solar cells will depend on the community’s ability to synthesize scientific curiosity with pragmatic strategies, fostering technologies ready to meet the complex demands of a sustainable future. Reflecting on the CIGS experience equips the field with the contextual awareness necessary to avoid repeating missteps while championing innovations that can redefine how we harvest the sun’s energy.
Subject of Research:
Lessons from copper indium gallium sulfo-selenide (CIGS) solar cells to advance perovskite photovoltaics.
Article Title:
Lessons from copper indium gallium sulfo-selenide solar cells for progressing perovskite photovoltaics.
Article References:
Dimitrievska, M., Saucedo, E., De Wolf, S. et al. Lessons from copper indium gallium sulfo-selenide solar cells for progressing perovskite photovoltaics. Nat Energy (2026). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41560-025-01936-0
Image Credits:
AI Generated
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41560-025-01936-0
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