Gives a treatment of thin-film silicon as a novel semiconductor material. Beginning with fundamental physical properties, this work focuses on device applications, solar cells in particular. Intended for students and professional scientists, it also discusses the limitations and design optimization of the devices, as well as fabrication methods.

This volume provides a comprehensive treatment of thin-film silicon in terms of its semiconductor nature, beginning with fundamental physical properties and then concentrating on device applications. It emphasizes amorphous silicon and microcrystalline silicon as photovoltaic materials and provides a model that allows these systems to be physically described in the simplest manner possible. The main part of the book deals with solar cells and modules by illustrating the basic functioning of these devices, along with their limitations, design optimization, testing, and fabrication methods. Among the manufacturing processes discussed are plasma-assisted and hot-wire deposition, sputtering, and structuring techniques.