|
Classification | Efficiency | Advantage | Disadvantage |
|
Silicon solar cells | | | |
Monocrystalline
| 15–24% | High conversion efficiency, the most mature technology, and high reliability | High cost, large silicon consumption, and complex production process |
Polysilicon
| 14–20.4% | No efficiency recession, can be fabricated on cheap substrates, and far lower cost than monocrystalline | Relatively large silicon consumption and cost, complex production process |
a-Si | 8–13.2% | Low cost, easiness of mass production, relatively high optical absorption coefficient, very low dark conductivity, and good response to weak light | Light-induced recession effect, low conversion efficiency, and low stability |
|
Multicompound solar cells | | | |
CdS
| Up to 16% | Low cost, easiness of mass production | Toxic cadmium |
CdTe | Theoretical: 28% | Ideal band gap, high light absorption rate, high conversion efficiency, stable performance, simple structure, and low cost | Limited natural tellurium reserves, high cost of module and base material, and toxic cadmium |
GaAs
| Up to 30% | High light absorption coefficient and conversion efficiency, strong resistant of temperature | Too high cost |
CIGS
| Up to 20%
| Low cost, nonrecession, good weak light performance, wide applicability of substrate, adjustable optical band gap, and strong antiradiation ability | Rare materials, the difficulty of controlling four elements precisely |
|
PPVC | Below 5% | Excellent mechanical properties and film-processing ability, low cost, flexibility, and simple manufacture | Low conversion efficiency, unstable performance |
Nanocrystalline TiO2
solar cells | More than 10% | Simple manufacture, low cost, good stability, nontoxicity, and short energy recovery cycle | Low conversion efficiency, immature research and development |
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