Cadmium Telluride Photovoltaic Solar Panels

The benefits of cdte thin film solar cells include.

Cadmium telluride photovoltaic solar panels.

Cadmium telluride cdte is a stable crystalline compound formed from cadmium and tellurium. Cadmium telluride cdte photovoltaics describes a photovoltaic pv technology that is based on the use of cadmium telluride in a thin semiconductor layer designed to absorb and convert sunlight into electricity. It is mainly used as the semiconducting material in cadmium telluride photovoltaics and an infrared optical window. Cadmium telluride cdte is the most common type of thin film solar cell in production.

As the second most common photovoltaic technology on the market behind traditional crystalline silicon cadmium telluride cdte panels are already a viable thin film solar panel solution. Typically cdte pv cells use a n i p structure. Advancements in solar technology and the rapidly expanding landscape of photovoltaic arrays are raising concerns about environmental toxicity namely the use of cadmium telluride cdte in most photovoltaic pv solar cells. Development of cdte as a solar cell material dates back to the early 1980s when 10 efficient devices were demonstrated.

Cdte thin film panels are made from several thin layers. Normally thin film cells have quite a bit lower efficiency than c si cells but the latest products from first solar have a 14. One main energy producing layer made from the compound cadmium telluride and surrounding layers. Implementation of better quality glass more transparent conductive oxides introduction of a high resistivity transparent film under the cds junction partner higher.

Cadmium telluride solar cells. There are two main types of thin film pv semiconductors on the market today. A thin film solar cell is made by depositing one or more thin layers of pv material on a supporting material such as glass plastic or metal. It is usually sandwiched with cadmium sulfide to form a p n junction solar pv cell.

Cadmium telluride cdte and copper indium gallium diselenide cigs. Cadmium telluride pv is the only thin film technology with lower costs than conventional solar cells made of crystalline silicon in multi kilowatt systems. First solar a us based manufacturer makes attractive pv modules that can be used in home applications. Cadmium telluride cdte is the most commercially successful thin film photovoltaic technology.

The united states is the leader in cadmium telluride cdte photovoltaic pv manufacturing and nrel has been at the forefront of research and development in this area. The question of what happens when indictments of current energy sources are also levied towards alternative sources is an important one. Pv solar cells based on cdte represent the largest segment of commercial thin film module production worldwide.