Crystalline Silicon Solar Cells addresses the practical and theoretical issues fundamental to the viable conversion of sunlight into electricity. Written by three internationally renowned experts, this valuable reference profits from results and experience gained from research at the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar … Show all
The first generation of the solar cells, also called the crystalline silicon generation, reported by the International Renewable Energy Agency or IRENA has reached market maturity years ago . It consists of single-crystalline, also called mono, as well as multicrystalline, also called poly, silicon solar cells.
In solar cell fabrication, crystalline silicon is either referred to as the multicrystalline silicon (multi-Si) or monocrystalline silicon (mono-Si) [70–72]. The multi-Si is further categorized as the polycrystalline silicon (poly-Si) or the semi-crystalline silicon, consisting of small and multiple crystallites.
Multi and single crystalline are largely utilized in manufacturing systems within the solar cell industry. Both crystalline silicon wafers are considered to be dominating substrate materials for solar cell fabrication.
On the practical side, c-Si solar cells make use of mono- and multi-crystalline silicon (mc-Si) wafers, wire-cut from ingots and cast silicon blocks, respectively. It is estimated that mc-Si wafers have a market share of 52% in the silicon solar cell manufacturing industry today, coming from a 60% versus 40% for mono-Si in 2017 .
This dominance will likely continue into at least the first few years of the 21stcentury. The long-term growth of crystalline-silicon solar cells will depend on the development of low-cost polysilicon feedstock, silicon films, and advanced cell and module manufacturing processes.