Nanotechnology-enhanced Thin-film Solar Cells: Analysis of Global Research Activities with Future Prospects

Nanotechnology-enhanced, thin-film solar cells are a promising and potentially important emerging technology. This paper examines global research patterns to assess development prospects. We apply the “tech mining” approach to R&D publications in this field. Records are compiled from Web of Science for the time period 2001-08. These indicate that the United States (US) is the leading author on nanotechnology-enhanced, thin-film solar cells. In addition, quality-related measures place the US in an even stronger position. Germany and Japan show slowed research growth rates in terms of both quantity and quality. China and India show dramatic rise on both counts, but they can not yet match the US. We also find that collaboration patterns within the US and Germany are quite different. In the US, we see little cooperation between institutes and no absolute leading institute; however, Germany shows the opposite attributes. Finally, this paper illuminates that nano-structured ZnO is particularly promising in thin-film solar cells, showing a sharp rise in publications since 2005, led by China.