Materials for low-cost solar cells

Abstract

Photovoltaic materials are reviewed with regard to their possible use in systems that could provide very large amounts of electric power from the Sun before the end of the century. The key is taken to be the cost of the solar cells which are considered to be presented about two orders of magnitude too high. Only silicon, in single crystal or ribbon form, or CdS in thin-film form are thought to be sufficiently developed to permit their possible large-scale exploitation by the last decade of the century. Silicon is considered to have the advantage over CdS at present for large-scale use because of the higher performance levels and the broader existing technology base. CdS thin films are considered to have greater potential if selected improvements can be effected in design and performance, because of lower projected cost and the ease of automating manufacture.