Solar cells are based on either crystalline silicon (c-Si) or thin film silicon technology.  Thin film cells are often cheaper to manufacture but are also less efficient than c-Si.  STI reseachers hope to greatly improve the efficiency of thin film cells by using novel materials and processes.

Broad adoption of solar energy requires continued improvements in photovoltaic cell conversion efficiency while also lowering system cost. While acceptable efficiencies are obtained today with commercial systems based on conventional materials and designs, disruptive technological advances are needed to significantly improve performance-to-cost ratios.

Existing generations of photovoltaic systems have limitations due to optical and electronic performance characteristics that are based on conventional material selection and device design.  Nanostructures and other novel material systems offer unique opportunities to address these limitations and can potentially create an entirely new generation of PV with significantly enhanced efficiency and other critical performance characteristics.

Using innovative materials, equipment sets and processes, STI investigators are working with thin film materials using tailored nanostructures that control four critical phenomena that directly impact thin film PV function: solar spectrum absorption; photocarrier production; charge transport and extraction; and light management.