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From Crystalline to Low-cost Silicon-based Solar Cells: a Review

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Abstract

Renewable energy has become an auspicious alternative to fossil fuel resources due to its sustainability and renewability. In this respect, Photovoltaics (PV) technology is one of the essential technologies. Today, more than 90 % of the global PV market relies on crystalline silicon (c-Si)-based solar cells. This article reviews the dynamic field of Si-based solar cells from high-cost crystalline to low-cost cells and investigates how to preserve high possible efficiencies while decreasing the cost. First, we discuss the various types of c-Si solar cells with different device architectures and report recent developments. Next, thin-film solar cells with their recent advancements are given. Then, Si nanowires solar cells and their recent results are discussed. Finally, we present the most encouraging tendencies in achieving low-cost solar cells utilizing cheap materials like heavily doped silicon wafers.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Basic Engineering Sciences, Benha Faculty of Engineering, Benha University, Benha, Egypt

    M. Okil & Tarek M. Abdolkader

  2. Department of Computer Engineering, College of Computer Science and Engineering, University of Ha’il, Ha’il, Saudi Arabia

    M. S. Salem

  3. Department of Electrical Communication and Electronics Systems Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Modern Science and Arts (MSA) University, Cairo, Egypt

    M. S. Salem

  4. Department of Engineering Physics and Mathematics, Faculty of Engineering, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt

    A. Shaker

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  1. M. Okil
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  2. M. S. Salem
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  3. Tarek M. Abdolkader
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  4. A. Shaker
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All authors contributed to the study conception and design. Material preparation, data collection and analysis were performed by all authors. The first draft of the manuscript was written by Mohamed Okil. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

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Correspondence to A. Shaker.

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Okil, M., Salem, M.S., Abdolkader, T.M. et al. From Crystalline to Low-cost Silicon-based Solar Cells: a Review. Silicon 14, 1895–1911 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12633-021-01032-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12633-021-01032-4

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