Photovoltaic Cell - Materials

Many semiconductor materials can be used to make photovoltaic cells, but silicon is most popular-not because it is most efficient, but because it is inexpensive because a lot of silicon is produced for making micro-electronics chips. Semiconductors such as gallium arsenide, cadmium sulphide, cadmium telluride, and copper indium diselenide are used in special-purpose high-efficiency cells, but are more expensive than silicon cells. The highest-efficiency photovoltaic cells are made of such materials.