Solar cells becoming thinner and cheaper

Scientists at Durham University in the UK are researching cheaper ways of harnessing the sun to increase the economic viability of solar energy and reduce reliance on fossil fuel energy.

Light-absorbing materials are being developed for use in thin-layer solar photovoltaic (PV) cells to convert light energy into electricity. Thicker silicon-based cells containing indium, a rare and expensive metal, are more commonly used to make solar panels today.

The research focuses on developing thin-layer PV cells using copper indium diselenide and cadmium telluride. It's hoped that more affordable thin-film PV cells could lead to a reduction in the cost of solar panels for the domestic market and an increase in the use of solar power, with any surplus electricity being fed back to the national grid.