Low cost, see-through thin-film silicon delivers expanded capabilities

Solar cells made from thin-film silicon require only approximately 1/100 the thickness of crystal silicon solar cells, they can be mass produced at a low cost. Energy conversion efficiency does not attain the level of crystal silicon solar cells, however, the conversion rate for a mass-produced module based on the tandem model of stacked layers of amorphous and microcrystalline silicon is 8.5%, and by using a triple-layer cell with two types of amorphous and microcrystalline silicon, a conversion rate of 10% can be reached.