Cadmium Telluride

Cadmium telluride is a binary II-VI compound semiconductor material made up of the elements cadmium and tellurium. In photovoltaics, it has established itself as a promising material for thin-film solar cells.

Properties and Advantages:

• High Absorption Capability: CdTe absorbs light very efficiently, allowing even thin layers to achieve a high conversion of sunlight into electrical energy.
• Favorable Band Gap: The band gap of CdTe is approximately 1.5 eV, which is optimal for converting the solar spectrum.
• Cost-Effective Production: The manufacturing of CdTe solar cells is often more cost-effective compared to crystalline silicon solar cells, as it requires less material and the production processes are simpler.
• High Efficiency: CdTe solar modules currently achieve efficiencies of over 20%, making them a competitive technology.

Applications:

• Thin-Film Solar Modules: CdTe is primarily used in thin-film solar modules, which are characterized by their flexibility and lightweight design.
• Tandem Solar Cells: CdTe is often combined with other semiconductors in tandem solar cells to further increase efficiency.

Challenges and Environmental Aspects:

• Cadmium: Cadmium is a toxic heavy metal. Therefore, the safe handling and disposal of CdTe modules is of great importance.
• Stability: The long-term stability of CdTe solar cells under various environmental conditions is still under investigation.

Conclusion:

Cadmium telluride is a promising material for photovoltaics, gaining importance due to its high efficiency and cost-effective production. However, developing safe and sustainable production and disposal processes is crucial to minimize environmental impact.

Keywords: Thin-Film Module, Photovoltaics, Semiconductors, Band Gap, Efficiency