What are the technologies used to make solar cells?
Thanks to extensive research, many types of solar cells are now available. And new and different approaches-permitting a trade-off between lower manufacturing costs versus lower efficiency in converting sunlight to electricity-have it possible to reduce the costs of production. There are three basic types of solar cell. Monocrystalline cells are cut from a single large crystal of silicon whilst polycrystalline cells are made from a number of crystals. The third type is the amorphous solar cell. Monocrystalline Silicon This type of solar cell uses a single layer of silicon for the semi-conductor. In order to produce this type of silicon it must be extremely pure-which means it is the most expensive type of solar cell to produce. Polycrystalline Silicon To make polycrystalline silicon cells, liquid silicon is poured into blocks that are subsequently sawed into plates. This type of approach produces some degree of degradation of the silicon crystals, which makes them less efficient. Howev
