Photovoltaic Materials and Manufacturing Issues: Volume 1123

The MRS Symposium Proceeding series is an internationally recognised reference suitable for researchers and practitioners.

Manufacturing and sales of photovoltaic (PV) energy have been growing at rates in excess of 40% for the last several years. Advances in materials research have been the basis for much of this progress - resulting in reduced costs and improved conversion efficiencies and reliabilities for solar systems. This volume features studies from a cross-section of current industry research leaders, new start-up companies, and university and laboratory researchers. It highlights the most significant advances in PV materials and device research, and examines research challenges to reaching the ultimate potential of current-generation (crystalline silicon), next-generation (thin films and concentrators), and future-generation PV technologies. The latter includes innovative materials and device concepts that hold the promise of significantly higher conversion efficiencies and/or much lower costs. Topics include: silicon solar cells and devices; thin-film polycrystalline materials and devices; characterization and new technologies.