Thin-Film Solar Cells Based on the Polycrystalline Compound Semiconductors CIS and CdTe

Powalla, Michael; Bonnet, Dieter

doi:https://doi.org/10.1155/2007/97545

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Recent Advances in Solar Cells

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Review Article | Open Access

Volume 2007 | Article ID 097545 | https://doi.org/10.1155/2007/97545

Thin-Film Solar Cells Based on the Polycrystalline Compound Semiconductors CIS and CdTe

Michael Powalla¹and Dieter Bonnet²

Academic Editor: Armin G. Aberle

Received07 May 2007

Accepted18 Jul 2007

Published17 Sept 2007

Abstract

Thin-film photovoltaic modules based on Cu-In-Ga-Se-S (CIS) and CdTe are already being produced with high-quality and solar conversion efficiencies of around 10%, with values up to 14% expected in the near future. The integrated interconnection of single cells into large-area modules of 0.6×1.2m2 enables low-cost mass production, so that thin-film modules will soon be able to compete with conventional silicon-wafer-based modules. This contribution provides an overview of the basic technologies for CdTe and CIS modules, the research and development (R&D) issues, production technology and capacities, the module performance in long-term outdoor testing, and their use in installations.

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Copyright

Copyright © 2007 Michael Powalla and Dieter Bonnet. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

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