Silicon, Thin-Film, and Kesterite Solar Cell Materials and Device Engineering
This research community focuses on the materials science and device physics of photovoltaic technologies, specifically optimizing the efficiency and stability of silicon-based, cadmium telluride, and copper indium gallium selenide solar cells.
The work centers on three primary material systems: crystalline silicon (including heterojunction and back-contact architectures), cadmium telluride thin films, and kesterite compounds such as copper indium gallium selenide and copper zinc tin sulfide. Recurring themes include the optimization of buffer layers, the control of grain growth and phase evolution, and the reduction of recombination losses through surface passivation and contact engineering. Methods span thin-film deposition, numerical simulation of optical and electrical properties, and the development of flexible substrates. The literature consistently addresses the trade-offs between cell efficiency, manufacturing scalability, and long-term degradation mechanisms in these specific semiconductor structures.
The community represents a significant share of research involving tellurium (15.4%), silicon (13.2%), and selenium (7.7%). Silicon also contributes the highest absolute number of papers within this group (4,948), while tellurium leads in proportional share.
The community comprises 22,910 papers, with the highest publication volume in Solar Energy Materials and Solar Cells, Journal of Applied Physics, and Thin Solid Films.
Recent work continues to refine silicon heterojunction back contacts and kesterite defect structures, while also addressing the circular economy aspects of photovoltaic module recycling and reuse.