Abstract: A thin-film flexible solar cell built on a plastic substrate comprises a cadmium telluride p-type layer and a cadmium sulfide n-type layer sputter deposited onto a plastic substrate at a temperature sufficiently low to avoid damaging or melting the plastic and to minimize crystallization of the cadmium telluride. A transparent conductive oxide layer overlaid by a bus bar network is deposited over the n-type layer. A back contact layer of conductive metal is deposited underneath the p-type layer and completes the current collection circuit. The semiconductor layers may be amorphous or polycrystalline in structure.

Abstract: A thin-film flexible solar cell built on a plastic substrate comprises a cadmium telluride p-type layer and a cadmium sulfide n-type layer sputter deposited onto a plastic substrate at a temperature sufficiently low to avoid damaging or melting the plastic and to minimize crystallization of the cadmium telluride. A transparent conductive oxide layer overlaid by a bus bar network is deposited over the n-type layer. A back contact layer of conductive metal is deposited underneath the p-type layer and completes the current collection circuit. The semiconductor layers may be amorphous or polycrystalline in structure.