Compound semiconductors

Which material, named for its crystal structure, has attracted intense research as a high-efficiency solar cell material that can be made by low-temperature processes such as coating?

  1. APerovskite
  2. BDiamond-structure silicon
  3. CWurtzite GaN
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Answer: A. Perovskite

Materials with the perovskite crystal structure, such as lead halides, achieve high conversion efficiency even though they can be coated from solution at low temperature, so they are actively researched for solar cells. Applications such as lightweight flexible cells and tandem cells stacked on silicon are expected, but durability is a challenge.

  • A. Correct. Perovskite solar cells are actively researched.
  • B. Crystalline silicon solar cells are made with high-temperature processes.
  • C. GaN is used mainly for LEDs and power and RF devices.
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