thin-film solar cell


thin-film solar cell

[′thin ¦film ′sō·lər ′sel] (electronics) A solar cell in which a thin film of gallium arsenide, cadmium sulfide, or other semiconductor material is evaporated on a thin, flexible metal or plastic substrate; the rather low efficiency (about 2%) is compensated by the flexibility and light weight, making these cells attractive as power sources for spacecraft.