Trends in photoelectric conversion efficiency of crystalline silicon solar cells over the past few years. Subsequent developments also require lower costs reduced from material costs and processing costs. First, the thickness of the silicon wafer is reduced, i.e., the development of a thin silicon process.
The first crystalline silicon based solar cell was developed almost 40 years ago, and are still working properly. Most of the manufacturing companies offer the 10 years or even longer warranties, on the crystalline silicon solar cells.
The development of the PV industry is a vigorous competition between mono- and multi-crystalline silicon, as well as their crystal growth technologies, which will be focused on shortly. Crystal growth was not the single factor in getting the Holly Grail of the ultimate technology; the slicing and advanced solar cell concepts played crucial roles.
During the past few decades, crystalline silicon solar cells are mainly applied on the utilization of solar energy in large scale, which are mainly classified into three types, i.e., mono-crystalline silicon, multi-crystalline silicon and thin film, respectively .
PV Solar Industry and Trends Approximately 95% of the total market share of solar cells comes from crystalline silicon materials . The reasons for silicon’s popularity within the PV market are that silicon is available and abundant, and thus relatively cheap.
During this period, the solar industry has witnessed technological advances, cost reductions, and increased awareness of renewable energy’s benefits. As more than 90% of the commercial solar cells in the market are made from silicon, in this work we will focus on silicon-based solar cells.