Thin Film Silicon Solar Cells: A Review and Selected Trends

A case is developed for considering silicon as the prime medium-term candidate for semiconductor photovoltaic cells; the reason is based on other materials not being abundantly available, highly toxic, or very expensive. Crystalline silicon solar cells, however, have excellent efficiencies according to the data presented. Thus, thin-film silicon solar cells are considered as the main point for large-scale energy applications in the future. Further, novel approaches to further improve the stable efficiencies of the cells are also listed.