Abstract.
The present review summarizes the results of research efforts in the field of crystalline silicon thin-film solar cells on foreign substrates. The large number of competing approaches can be broadly classified according to the grain size of the crystalline Si films and the doping of the crystalline absorber. Currently, solar cells based on microcrystalline Si films on glass with an intrinsic or moderately doped absorber film achieve efficiencies around 10%, whereas thin-film cells fabricated from large-grained polycrystalline Si on high-temperature-resistant substrates have efficiencies in the range of 15%. The paper discusses the limitations of various approaches and describes recent developments in the area of thin, monocrystalline Si films that may open the way towards 20% efficient thin-film Si solar cells.
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Received: 1 March 1999 / Accepted: 28 March 1999 / Published online: 24 June 1999
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Bergmann, R. Crystalline Si thin-film solar cells: a review. Appl Phys A 69, 187–194 (1999). https://doi.org/10.1007/s003390050989
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s003390050989