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Advanced Inorganic Materials for Photovoltaics

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  31 January 2011

Abdelilah Slaoui  and
Reuben T. Collins

Abstract

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By 2050, world annual energy consumption is predicted to grow from the present 13 terawatt - years (TWyr) to nearly 30 TWyr. Although all energy sources must be considered in meeting this challenge, solar energy may arguably be the only carbon-free source capable of supplying a significant fraction of energy at these levels. This issue of MRS Bulletin reviews the status and future development of solar photovoltaic technologies based on inorganic materials. The discussion begins with materials and cell designs for second-generation photovoltaics based on thin films [a-Si:H, Si, Cu(In, Ga)(Se, S)2, CdTe]. Recent advances in tandem cells and concentrators are alsoreported, along with photovoltaic approaches involving nanoscale materials such as quantum dot arrays. Finally, work on transparent conducting oxides that are critical to nearly all cell designs are discussed.

Type
Research Article
Information
MRS Bulletin , Volume 32 , Issue 3: Advanced Inorganic Materials for Photovoltaics , March 2007 , pp. 211 - 218
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 2007

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