Silicon-based solar cell: Materials, fabrication and applications

Abstract

In view of the destruction of the natural environment caused by fossil energy, solar energy, as an essential technology for clean energy, should receive more attention and research. Solar cells, which are made for solar energy, have been quite mature in recent decades. This paper reviews the material properties of monocrystalline silicon, polycrystalline silicon and amorphous silicon and their advantages and disadvantages from a silicon-based solar cell. The follow-up fabrication of silicon solar cell can be divided into two types: crystalline silicon wafer composed of monocrystalline polycrystalline silicon wafer and thin film silicon wafer. The further application of solar cells is inseparable from their material and manufacture. Therefore, this paper also discusses the various ways of applications of the diverse types of solar cells.