Breakthrough in solar cell research

IBM is reporting that they have made a breakthrough in solar cell research that allows for the production of thin film solar cells with  efficiencies of 9.6 percent, or 40 percent higher than the previous effort with comparable materials. The new cells are produced from “earth abundant” elements such as copper, tin, sulphur and/or selenium, which could keep the cost down considerably.
Previous developments in thin film solar products have resulted in greater efficiencies but are made with more expensive materials.  IBM announced that they would be licensing the technology that they developed.