Progress in Major Thin-film Solar Cells: Growth Technologies, Layer Materials and Efficiencies

Thin film solar cells are desirable due to minimal material usage, cost effective synthesis processes and a promising trend in efficiency rise. In this review paper, remarkable progresses of five major types of thin film solar cell (TFSC) including amorphous silicon (a-Si) solar cell, copper indium gallium selenide (CIGS) solar cell, copper zinc tin sulfide (CZTS) solar cell, cadmium telluride (CdTe) solar cell and dye-sensitized solar cell (DSSC) have been presented from their inception to the state-of-the-art development. Cell configurations, different layers of these cells, their growth procedures, function and modification for working solar cells have also been explored. Critical issues that limit the performance of these cells as well as current scenario have also been addressed. Finally, a summary of this work has been presented as a comparative study among the five major types of TFSCs in terms of the state-of-the-art data for structural, optical, and electrical properties, material availability, toxicity, stability and highest efficiency for helping readers decipher the major challenges for popularization and commercialization of this technology.