AMORPHOUS-SILICON TECHNOLOGY - COMING OF AGE

This paper describes the current status of hydrogenated amorphous sili con (a-Si:H) based solar cell technology and the evolution to its ''co ming of age''. Several features which are unique to the a-Si:H technol ogy are reviewed as well as the advances in concurrently improving mat erials, cell design and manufacturing. Future developments in this tec hnology, whose impact is not only felt in the photovoltaic field but a lso in the huge market of liquid crystal displays, are also discussed.