Can polycrystalline silicon thin-film solar cells be used on glass?

A research project is under way at The University of New South Wales aiming at the realisation of a novel type of polycrystalline silicon thin-film solar cell on glass.

Is there a process for polycrystalline solar-grade silicon production?

However, Elkem of Norway developed a process for polycrystalline solar-grade silicon production and is building a 5000 metric tons plant . The major problem of the chemical route is that it involves the production of chlorosilanes and reactions with hydrochloric acid.

What are the advantages of polycrystalline silicon compared to wafer-based solar cells?

Fabricated as thin layers, polycrystalline silicon also features all advantages of thin-film technologies, namely low costs due to low material wastage with up to factor 100 less material compared to wafer-based solar cells, and the technically feasible monolithic fabrication of large area devices.

How effective are crystalline silicon thin-film solar cells?

With an appropriate light trapping concept crystalline silicon thin-film solar cells can principally reach single-junction efficiencies of more than 17% close to that of silicon wafer-based solar cells, as calculated by Brendel in 1999 .

What are silicon-based solar cells?

Silicon-based solar cells, which represent an important proportion of commercially available devices, are shortly addressed. Several available processes to obtain polycrystalline silicon, which can be classified basically by the temperature range involved in the overall process, are presented.

How do you get polycrystalline silicon?

Several available processes to obtain polycrystalline silicon, which can be classified basically by the temperature range involved in the overall process, are presented. Laser-induced crystallization makes use of the local heating that can be achieved by a laser beam when impinging on an a-Si thin film. Solar spectrum reaching Earth.