Thin-film modules

To manufacture thin-film modules, wafer-thin layers of a semiconductor material are deposited on substrates and superstrates (depending on the particular method) such as glass, ceramics or metal. Various semiconductor materials can be used. The main ones are:

Amorphous silicon (a-Si)
Tandem of amorphous and microcrystalline silicon (a-Si/µc-Si)
Copper indium diselenide (CIS)
Cadmium telluride (CdTe)

Compared with crystalline modules, thin-film modules are less efficient (6 to 11%) and thus require greater surface area in order to achieve the same output.
The form, size and number of cells of a module are already defined during the production process by dividing (structuring) the various layers. Therefore, there is great flexibility with regard to the form and size of the module. Thin-film cells are available opaque or semitransparent. The possible colours range from reddish-brown and bluish-purple to black. The transparent and thus almost invisible contacts create a homogeneous appearance.