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Flexible, Stretchable, and Biodegradable Thin-Film Silicon Photovoltaics

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Advances in Silicon Solar Cells

Abstract

This chapter provides an overview of recent progress in the study of thin-film Si photovoltaic (PV) technologies, specifically devices in flexible, stretchable, and/or degradable formats for biomedical applications. First, various approaches for synthesis, fabrication, and assembly of different types of thin-film Si PV cells, ranging from amorphous Si, microcrystalline Si to single-crystalline Si cells, are reviewed. Performances of various cells are also discussed. Materials selection and mechanical considerations are presented, both analytically and numerically, for achieving design flexible and stretchable Si PV cells for lightweight, wearable, and/or implantable light detection and energy harvesting systems. Finally, strategies to form thin-film Si PV cells in a water-soluble and biodegradable “transient” format for bio-integration are discussed. Because of these novel characteristics, thin-film Si PV cells offer a promising solution for energy supply in emerging biomedical applications.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Electronic Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China

    Xing Sheng

  2. Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK, USA

    Shuodao Wang

  3. School of Materials Science and Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China

    Lan Yin

Authors
  1. Xing Sheng
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  2. Shuodao Wang
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  3. Lan Yin
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Xing Sheng .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physics, Al Isra University, Amman, Jordan

    Shadia Ikhmayies

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Sheng, X., Wang, S., Yin, L. (2018). Flexible, Stretchable, and Biodegradable Thin-Film Silicon Photovoltaics. In: Ikhmayies, S. (eds) Advances in Silicon Solar Cells. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-69703-1_6

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