Thermal
Thermal
Concentrated | Parabolic Trough
Thermal
Concentrated | Fresnel
Thermal
Concentrated | Dish Stirling
Thermal
Concentrated | Solar Power Tower
Photovoltaic
Photovoltaic
Crystalline Silicon (wafer)
Photovoltaic
Thin Film | Silicon
Photovoltaic
Thin Film | Non Silicon
Photovoltaic
Thin Film | Multijunction
Photovoltaic
Thin Film | Dye-sensitized
(DSSC)
Photovoltaic
Thin Film | Organic
Photovoltaic
3D Cells
Photovoltaic
Infrared and UV
Photovoltaic
Thermophotovoltaic (TPV)
Photovoltaic
Concentrated (CPV)
Luminescent Solar Concentrator
Heliostatic (tracking)
Concentrated
Dual PV/Thermal Integrated Systems
Updraft Tower
(Solar Chimney)
Thermoelectric
Photoelectrochemical Cell
(PEC)
Direct to Liquid Fuel
Direct to Hydrogen
Solar Chemical
(artificial photosynthesis)
Air Conditioning
Radiometer
Thermal
Concentrated | Parabolic Trough
Thermal
Concentrated | Fresnel
Thermal
Concentrated | Dish Stirling
Thermal
Concentrated | Solar Power Tower
Photovoltaic
Photovoltaic
Crystalline Silicon (wafer)
Photovoltaic
Thin Film | Silicon
Photovoltaic
Thin Film | Non Silicon
Photovoltaic
Thin Film | Multijunction
Photovoltaic
Thin Film | Dye-sensitized
(DSSC)
Photovoltaic
Thin Film | Organic
Photovoltaic
3D Cells
Photovoltaic
Infrared and UV
Photovoltaic
Thermophotovoltaic (TPV)
Photovoltaic
Concentrated (CPV)
Luminescent Solar Concentrator
Heliostatic (tracking)
Concentrated
Dual PV/Thermal Integrated Systems
Updraft Tower
(Solar Chimney)
Thermoelectric
Photoelectrochemical Cell
(PEC)
Direct to Liquid Fuel
Direct to Hydrogen
Solar Chemical
(artificial photosynthesis)
Air Conditioning
Radiometer
Photovoltaic, Crystalline Silicon (wafer)
Silicon (Si) is a semiconductor material that displays the photovoltaic effect. It was the first material to be employed in solar cells and is still the most prevalent. It can be applied for use in either a crystalline (wafer) form, or in a non-crystalline (amorphous) form.
Silicon (Si) is a semiconductor material that displays the photovoltaic effect. It was the first material to be employed in solar cells and is still the most prevalent. It can be applied for use in either a crystalline (wafer) form, or in a non-crystalline (amorphous) form.
There are two types of crystalline silicon: monocrystalline and polycrystalline (aka multicrystalline).
Monocrystalline is very expensive to manufacture (because it requires cutting slices from cylindrical ingots of silicon crystals that are grown with the Czochralski process) but it is the most efficient crystalline silicon technology. Its conversion efficiency is around 23%.
Polycrystalline is easier to manufacture and can be cut into square shaped slices, but has lower efficiency in its PV effect (approximately 5%). It is comprised of small crystals or crystallites. Its conversion efficiency is around 18%.