Guide
Thin film
Light-absorbing layers thousands of times thinner than a silicon wafer.
What makes it different
Instead of slicing wafers from silicon crystals, thin-film panels deposit very thin layers of light-absorbing material onto glass or flexible sheets. The most widely used type today is cadmium telluride (CdTe); others include CIGS and amorphous silicon.
Where it is used
Thin film generally loses less output in high temperatures than crystalline silicon, and it can be made in highly automated factories. That makes it popular for large solar farms, especially in hot, sunny regions.
Advantages and limitations
Advantages
- Good performance in heat
- Uses far less semiconductor material
- Can be flexible or lightweight
Limitations
- Lower efficiency than the best silicon panels
- Some types use scarce or toxic elements that must be recycled
- Smaller market share
Current development
Manufacturers are improving efficiency and expanding recycling programmes, and thin-film layers are being explored as partners in tandem cells.
Further reading
- Thin-film solar cell (Wikipedia)Types and history