A detailed review on Si, GaAs, and CIGS/CdTe based solar cells and efficiency comparison

A solar cell is technically known as a photovoltaic device which converts light energy into an electric energy by the phenomenon called photovoltaic effect. Solar cells produce renewable energy and serve as a great substitute for conventional sources of energy such as petroleum, coal and natural gas. Solar cell is suitable for powering satellites due to its light weight and durability for several years, having ability to operate even in the vacuum space. It is also used in solar warm air electric power plants and every other PV powered devices ranging from heating systems, lighting, automobile to solar updraft towers and etc. It is of utmost demand to support research and development of renewable energy resources that would successfully power the world in the future without destroying the environment as the planet earth needs reduction in greenhouse gas emission. Immense progress has been observed over the years on several photovoltaic materials and devices based on conversion efficiencies.. This survey primarily focusses on different techniques and technologies analysed from the other cited references to enhance the working of a solar cell like selection of the most suitable material for each layer, various processing techniques and modifying the layer thickness of buffer. This review paper summarizes solar cell materials like Gallium Arsenide (GaAs), Silicon (Si), Cu(In,Ga)(S,Se2) (CIGS) and Cadmium Telluride (CdTe) that provide higher efficiencies when compared to other materials. In summation, it is understood that Gallium Arsenide solar cell provides highest efficiency when compared to Si, CIGS and CdTe based one junction solar cell. Factors such as, efficiency (eta), open circuit voltage (Voc), short circuit current density (Jsc) & fill factor (FF) have been analysed for the study of modeling, simulation and fabrication of solar cell. Detailed survey has been presented in this paper on different types of solar cells that would help the researchers to do more research on these solar cells.