Recent Advances in Flexible Solar Cells; Materials, Fabrication, and Commercialization

Maoz Maoz (), Zohair Abbas, Syed Abdul Basit Shah and Vanni Lughi
Additional contact information
Maoz Maoz: Department of Engineering and Architecture, University of Trieste, Via Valerio 6/A, 34127 Trieste, Italy
Zohair Abbas: Electronics Engineering Department, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Via del Politecnico, 00133 Rome, Italy
Syed Abdul Basit Shah: Department of Engineering and Architecture, University of Trieste, Via Valerio 6/A, 34127 Trieste, Italy
Vanni Lughi: Department of Engineering and Architecture, University of Trieste, Via Valerio 6/A, 34127 Trieste, Italy

Sustainability, 2025, vol. 17, issue 5, 1-40

Abstract: Flexibility, light weight, and mechanical robustness are the key advantages of flexible photovoltaic (PV) modules, making them highly versatile for sustainable energy solutions. Unlike traditional rigid PV modules, their flexible nature makes them incredibly versatile for harnessing energy in places where doing so was once impossible. They have a wide range of applications due to their flexibility and moldability, making it possible to conform these modules to surfaces like curved rooftops and other irregular structures. In this paper, we provide a comprehensive review of all the materials used in flexible PV modules with a focus on their role in sustainability. We thoroughly discuss the active-layer materials for crystalline silicon (c-Si)-based solar cells (SC) and thin-film solar cells such as cadmium telluride (CdTe), as well as copper indium gallium diselenide (CIGS), amorphous thin-film silicon (a-Si), perovskite and organic solar cells. Various properties, such as the optical, barrier, thermal, and mechanical properties of different substrate materials, are reviewed. Transport layers and conductive electrode materials are discussed with a focus on emerging trends and contributions to sustainable PV technology. Various fabrication techniques involved in making flexible PV modules, along with advantages, disadvantages, and future trends, are highlighted in the paper. The commercialization of flexible PV is also discussed, which is a crucial milestone in advancing and adapting new technologies in the PV industry with a focus on contributing toward sustainability.

Keywords: flexible solar cells; absorber layer; substrate materials; fabrication; thin film; electrodes; polymers; efficiency (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations:

Downloads: (external link)
https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/17/5/1820/pdf (application/pdf)
https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/17/5/1820/ (text/html)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:17:y:2025:i:5:p:1820-:d:1596306

Access Statistics for this article

Sustainability is currently edited by Ms. Alexandra Wu

More articles in Sustainability from MDPI
Bibliographic data for series maintained by MDPI Indexing Manager ().