What are thin film solar panels?

Thin film solar panels consist of several layers, each serving a specific purpose in the energy conversion process. The primary components include: Substrate: The base material onto which the thin film layers are deposited. Common substrate materials include glass, metal, and flexible materials like plastic or polymer.

What materials are used for thin-film solar technology?

The most commonly used ones for thin-film solar technology are cadmium telluride (CdTe), copper indium gallium selenide (CIGS), amorphous silicon (a-Si), and gallium arsenide (GaAs). The efficiency, weight, and other aspects may vary between materials, but the generation process is the same.

When did thin-film solar panels come out?

In 1980, researchers finally achieved a 10% efficiency, and by 1986 ARCO Solar released the G-4000, the first commercial thin-film solar panel. Thin-film solar panels require less semiconductor material in the manufacturing process than regular crystalline silicon modules, however, they operate fairly similar under the photovoltaic effect.

How are CIGS thin-film solar panels made?

Manufacturing for Copper Indium Gallium Selenide (CIGS) thin-film solar panels has improved throughout history. Currently, CIGS thin-film solar cells are manufactured by placing a molybdenum (Mo) electrode layer over the substrate through a sputtering process. The substrate is usually manufactured with polyimide or a metal foil.

How are amorphous silicon (a-Si) thin-film solar panels made?

There are two routes to manufacture amorphous silicon (a-Si) thin-film solar panels, by processing glass plates or flexible substrates. Efficiency for a-Si solar cells is currently set at 14.0%. Disregarding the route taken to manufacture amorphous silicon (a-Si) thin-film solar panels, the following steps are part of the process:

What are cadmium telluride thin film solar panels?

Cadmium telluride (CdTe) thin film solar panels are another prominent type of thin film technology. These panels are manufactured by depositing a thin layer of cadmium telluride onto a substrate, typically glass. CdTe panels have gained attention for their high efficiency and relatively low manufacturing costs compared to other solar technologies.