As you might remember from biology class, the process in which a parent cell splits off into two daughter cells is called mitosis (or meiosis). That process is the first step in the expansion of life as we know it, including your own body tissue. Now, throughout solar industry history, we've had some mitosis of our own. In 1883, when Charles Fritts first made a selenium-based solar cell, he began a long chain of reproduction and evolution - a chain culminating thus far in the many types of solar cells we know today.
Selenium gave way to silicon, the original solar golden child, which dominated solar cell production for much of the 20th Century and still persists today. Now, however, several other types of cells are gaining momentum. These include amorphous silicon, cadmium telluride and CIGS, among others. Yet these are just the semiconductors and can be used to create several different kinds of solar cell: plastic or polymer, dye-sensitized, organic or good ol' fashioned monocrystalline silicon.
If that little spout of biology and chemistry is a tad confusing, even nonsensical, consider yourself normal. So in order to clear the air about the many types of solar cells, we're providing the following Solar Library articles, which cover these photoelectric phenomena in more detail. You can get to know your own solar electric system from the inside out, or as a biologist might say, from the individual cell through the entire body.
Revolutionary plastic solar cells are flexible which amounts for universal applications. Not as efficient as large solar panels, but evolving.… Read more »
Foil-based solar cells consist of a copper foil that is thinner then household aluminum foil and is very flexible. It is becoming a common replacement to standard silicon solar cells.… Read more »
Carbon based solar cells are an advanced alternative to traditional silicon wafers.… Read more »
Polymer solar cells are flexible and their production costs are about a third of the price of silicon cell manufacturing.… Read more »
New advances in solar cell development and research have created new types of cells including dye-sensitized solar cells.… Read more »
Less flexible then the most recent advancements in solar technology, silicon solar cells were the original semiconductor for solar systems.… Read more »
Home solar power broken down into helpful information for a home solar power system owner. Read articles, solar blog, and get ideas and free estimates from certified solar installers.… Read more »
Learn all about the technology of solar cells for your home solar power systems. Articles, pictures, and free estimates from certified solar installers.… Read more »
Thin-film solar cells are the next generation of solar cells. Helpful information, articles, and estimates from home solar power installers.… Read more »
Learn about solar cell types and materials with helpful articles, insightful ideas, and free solar estimates from residential solar power installers.… Read more »
Helpful information for learning the basics of home solar power and solar cells. Articles, ideas, pictures, and free estimates from certified solar installers are all here.… Read more »
Thin-film solar cells are usually multi-junction cells. Learn the ins and outs of solar technology in a common sense, easy-to-learn way. Get ideas, insights, articles, and free solar estimates from home solar contractors.… Read more »
The composition of Hybrid Solar Cells is organic and inorganic semiconductor materials. Learn more through helpful articles, insightful ideas, and free solar estimates from certified solar installers.… Read more »
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