What is a solar cell made of?

More than 95 percent of all solar cells produced worldwide are made of the semiconductor material silicon (Si). As the second most abundant element in the Earth’s crust, it is available in sufficient quantities. Moreover, the processing of the material can be environmentally friendly. Depending on the type of crystal, there are three different cell types: monocrystalline, polycrystalline and amorphous.

The different cell types differ in their manufacturing costs and efficiency. The efficiency of amorphous cells (thin-film cells) is lower than of the other two cell types; however, due to the less complex manufacturing process, they are less expensive.