Thin Film Solar Cells

Table of Contents

A. Executive Summary

B. Introduction to Photovoltaics

• B.1 Overview
• B.2 Historical Background of Solar Cells
• B.3 Looking at Solar Electricity
• B.4 Photovoltaic Systems
• B.5 Looking at the Balance of System (BOS)
• B.6 Analyzing the 3 Generations of Photovoltaic Cells
  • B.6.1 First Generation PV Cells
  • B.6.2 Second Generation PV Cells
  • B.6.3 Third Generation PV Cells
• B.7 What are Concentrator Cells?
• B.8 Analyzing Concentrated Photovoltaics
• B.9 Applications of Solar Cells
• B.10 Types of Solar Cells
• B.11 PV Technology in Isolated Generation
• B.12 Looking at Thin Film Solar Cells
• B.13 PV Family Tree - A Diagrammatic Representation

C. Global Market Overview of Solar PV Cells

• C.1 Market Profile
• C.2 Market Size
• C.3 Growth Patterns of the Market
• C.4 Market Statistics - Production Side
• C.5 Commercialization Potential & Market Development
• C.6 Future of the Market

D. Point of Discussion: Why are Solar Cells Based on Semiconductors?

E. Looking at the Properties of Silicon

• E.1 Why Silicon is the Basis for Photovoltaics?
• E.2 Looking at Crystalline Silicon
• E.3 Looking at Amorphous Silicon

F. Role of Organic Semiconductors

G. What are Thin Film Solar Cells?

• G.1 Overview
• G.2 Categories of Thin Film Solar Cells
  • G.2.1 Amorphous Silicon
  • G.2.2 Cadmium Telluride
  • G.2.3 Copper Indium Gallium Selenide
  • G.2.4 Dye-sensitized Solar Cell
  • G.2.5 Organic Solar Cell
  • G.2.6 Thin-film Silicon
• G.3 Structure of the Thin Film Solar Cell
• G.4 Efficiency and Cost of Thin Film Solar Cells
• G.5 Production of Thin Film Solar Cells
• G.6 Looking at Characterization Techniques and Electrical Qualities of Thin Film Solar Cells

H. Role of P3HT

• H.1 Overview
• H.2 Electrical Properties and Organization of Thin Film Solar Cells
• H.3 Optical Properties and HOMO, LUMO Levels in P3HT
• H.4 Role of Silicon & P3HT Heterojunction in Photovoltaics
  • H.4.1 Junctions with Semiconductors
    • H.4.1.1 MIS Junction
    • H.4.1.2 Ohmic Contact
    • H.4.1.3 p-i-n Junction
    • H.4.1.4 p-n Junction
    • H.4.1.5 Schottky Contact
    • H.4.1.6 Semiconductor Heterojunctions
  • H.4.2 Band Diagrams Based on Silicon and P3HT

I. Analysis of Thin Film Crystalline Silicon Solar Cells

• I.1 Overview
• I.2 Looking at Thin Film Polycrystalline Silicon Solar Cells
  • I.2.1 Formation of Microcrystalline Silicon Thin Film Solar Cells and Role of Low Temperature
  • I.2.2 Carrier Transport Process in Microcrystalline Silicon Thin Film Solar Cells
  • I.2.3 Fabrication Rate for Microcrystalline Silicon Thin Film Solar Cells
  • I.2.4 Light Trapping Quality of Microcrystalline Silicon Thin Film Solar Cells
• I.3 Microcrystalline Silicon Thin Film Solar Cells' Applications in Hybrid Solar Cells
  • I.3.1 Looking at Silicon Hybrid Solar Cells
  • I.3.2 Developing Techniques for Microcrystalline Silicon Deposits on Large Area Substrates
• I.4 Brief Look at Thin Film Silicon Triple Junction Solar Cells
• I.5 Summing Up

J. Analysis of CIGS/CIS-based Thin Film Solar Cells

• J.1 Overview of CIGS Photovoltaic Cells
• J.2 Structure of a CIGS Thin Film Solar Cell
• J.3 Material Characteristics of CIGS Solar Cells
• J.4 A Look at the Phase Diagram
• J.5 Defects and Impurities in CIGS Solar Cells
• J.6 Techniques for Manufacturing Thin Film Solar Cells
  • J.6.1 Coevaporation
  • J.6.2 Sequential Technique
• J.7 CIGS Fabrication Technologies
  • J.7.1 Cell Processing
  • J.7.2 Module Processing
• J.8 Summing Up

K. Analysis of Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells

• K.1 Overview
• K.2 Comparing Semiconductor Solar Cells vs. Dye Sensitized Solar Cells
• K.3 Fabrication Process
• K.4 How the Dye Sensitized Solar Cell Operates
• K.5 Efficiency of Dye Sensitized Solar Cells
• K.6 Degradation in UV Radiation
• K.7 Pros and Cons

L. Nanotechnology-enhanced Thin Film Solar Cells

M. Case Study: Potential of Thin Film Solar Cells Growth on the Moon

N. Manufacturers of Cadmium Telluride (CdTe) Solar Cells

• N.1 Antec Solar Energy AG
• N.2 Arendi SRL
• N.3 AVA Solar
• N.4 Calyxo GMBH
• N.5 Canrom Photovoltaics
• N.6 First Solar
• N.7 PrimeStar Solar

O. Manufacturers of Copper Indium Gallium Selenide (CIGS/CIS) Solar Cells

• O.1 Ascent Solar
• O.2 AVANCIS
• O.3 DayStar
• O.4 Global Solar Energy
• O.5 HelioVolt
• O.6 Honda Soltec
• O.7 ISET
• O.8 Johanna Solar
• O.9 Miasol?
• O.10 Nanosolar
• O.11 Odersun
• O.12 Q-Cells-Solibro
• O.13 Showa Shell Solar
• O.14 Solyndra
• O.15 SoloPower
• O.16 Sulfurcell
• O.17 Veeco Instruments Inc
• O.18 W?rth Solar

P. Manufacturers of Thin Film Amorphous Silicon (a-Si) Solar Cells

• P.1 Bangkok Solar
• P.2 China Solar Power
• P.3 CSG Solar
• P.4 EPV Solar
• P.5 Ersol Thin Film
• P.6 Fuji Electric Systems
• P.7 Green Energy Technology
• P.8 HELIODOMI
• P.9 HelioGrid
• P.10 Inventux Technologies AG
• P.11 Jinneng Solar
• P.12 Kaneka Solartech
• P.13 Kenmos PV
• P.14 Lambda Energia
• P.15 Malibu GmbH
• P.16 Mitsubishi Heavy Industries
• P.17 Moser Baer Photo Voltaic
• P.18 Nexpower
• P.19 Polar PV
• P.20 Pramac SpA
• P.21 QS Solar
• P.22 Sanyo Amorton
• P.23 Schott Solar Thin Film
• P.24 Sharp Thin Film
• P.25 Signet Solar
• P.26 Sinonar
• P.27 Solar Plus
• P.28 SolarMorph
• P.29 Soltechpv
• P.30 Sunfilm AG
• P.31 Sunner Solar
• P.32 Suntech
• P.33 Topray Solar
• P.34 Trony
• P.35 T-Solar Global
• P.36 United Solar Ovonic
• P.37 Xinao Group
• P.38 XsunX

Q. Manufacturers of Raw Materials & Equipment Suppliers

• Q.1 Manufacturers of Transparent Conducting Oxide (TCO) Glass
  • Q.1.1 AFG
  • Q.1.2 Asahi
  • Q.1.3 CTDC
  • Q.1.4 NSG
  • Q.1.5 XinYiGlass
• Q.2 Manufacturers Ethylene Vinyl Acetate (EVA)
  • Q.2.1 Bridgestone
  • Q.2.2 Dupont
  • Q.2.3 Etimex
  • Q.2.4 Mitsui Chemicals
  • Q.2.5 SEKISUI
  • Q.2.6 Solarcn
  • Q.2.7 STR
  • Q.2.8 Tecnofimes

R. Appendix

S. Glossary of Terms