This is the first comprehensive book on thin-film solar cells, potentially a key technology for solving the energy production problem in the 21st century in an environmentally friendly way. It covers a wide range of scientific and technological aspects of thin film semiconductors - deposition technologies, growth mechanisms and the basic properties of amorphous and nano-crystalline silicon - as well as the optimum design theory and device physics of high-efficiency solar cells, especially of single-junction and multi-junction solar cells. The development of large-area solar cell modules using single and multi-junction solar cells is also considered. Examples of recent photovoltaic systems are presented and analysed.

Inhalt

1 Background and Motivation for Thin-Film Solar-Cell Development.- 2 Recent Advances and Future Opportunities for Thin-Film Solar Cell.- 3 Electrical and Optical Properties of Amorphous Silicon and Its Alloys.- 4 Preparation and Properties of Nanocrystalline Silicon.- 5 Key Issues for the Efficiency Improvement of Silicon-Based Stacked Solar Cells.- 6 Development of Amorphous-Silicon Single-Junction Solar Cells and Their Application Systems.- 7 The Production of a-Si:H/a-SiGe:H/a-SiGe:H Stacked Solar-Cell Modules and Their Applications.- 8 Low-Temperature Fabrication of Nanocrystalline-Silicon Solar Cells.- 9 Mass Production of Large-Area Integrated Thin-Film Silicon Solar-Cell Module.- 10 Properties of Chalcopyrite-Based Materials and Film Deposition for Thin-Film Solar Cells.- 11 Development of Cu(InGa)Se2 Thin-Film Solar Cells.- 12 Expanding Thin-Film Solar PV System Applications.- 13 Future Prospects for Photovoltaic Technologies in Japan.