Why is Silicon used for making solar cells?

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Silicon has a bandgap of 1.1 eV, whereas Germanium has 0.65 eV. Silicon has an indirect bandgap, whereas Gallium Arsenide has direct bandgap. Still Silicon is mainly used for making solar cells. Why?






semiconductor-physics solar-cells







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  • My thesis advisor, who was a professor of materials science & engineering, once told me that silicon is actually not a very good semiconductor compared to germanium and some other semiconductors. For example, silicon doesn't have a particularly high carrier mobility. Like the answers below state, the reason silicon has remained popular in the semiconductor industry for so long is due to other factors than its electronic properties.
    – Samuel Weir
    1 hour ago










  • What are those other factors?
    – Shaona Bose
    28 mins ago










  • Gallium arsenide is surely something everyone wants on their roofs
    – PlasmaHH
    36 secs ago














up vote
1
down vote

favorite












Silicon has a bandgap of 1.1 eV, whereas Germanium has 0.65 eV. Silicon has an indirect bandgap, whereas Gallium Arsenide has direct bandgap. Still Silicon is mainly used for making solar cells. Why?






semiconductor-physics solar-cells







share|cite|improve this question





















  • My thesis advisor, who was a professor of materials science & engineering, once told me that silicon is actually not a very good semiconductor compared to germanium and some other semiconductors. For example, silicon doesn't have a particularly high carrier mobility. Like the answers below state, the reason silicon has remained popular in the semiconductor industry for so long is due to other factors than its electronic properties.
    – Samuel Weir
    1 hour ago










  • What are those other factors?
    – Shaona Bose
    28 mins ago










  • Gallium arsenide is surely something everyone wants on their roofs
    – PlasmaHH
    36 secs ago












up vote
1
down vote

favorite









up vote
1
down vote

favorite











Silicon has a bandgap of 1.1 eV, whereas Germanium has 0.65 eV. Silicon has an indirect bandgap, whereas Gallium Arsenide has direct bandgap. Still Silicon is mainly used for making solar cells. Why?






semiconductor-physics solar-cells







share|cite|improve this question













Silicon has a bandgap of 1.1 eV, whereas Germanium has 0.65 eV. Silicon has an indirect bandgap, whereas Gallium Arsenide has direct bandgap. Still Silicon is mainly used for making solar cells. Why?






semiconductor-physics solar-cells




semiconductor-physics solar-cells






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asked 3 hours ago









Shaona Bose

2391413




2391413











  • My thesis advisor, who was a professor of materials science & engineering, once told me that silicon is actually not a very good semiconductor compared to germanium and some other semiconductors. For example, silicon doesn't have a particularly high carrier mobility. Like the answers below state, the reason silicon has remained popular in the semiconductor industry for so long is due to other factors than its electronic properties.
    – Samuel Weir
    1 hour ago










  • What are those other factors?
    – Shaona Bose
    28 mins ago










  • Gallium arsenide is surely something everyone wants on their roofs
    – PlasmaHH
    36 secs ago
















  • My thesis advisor, who was a professor of materials science & engineering, once told me that silicon is actually not a very good semiconductor compared to germanium and some other semiconductors. For example, silicon doesn't have a particularly high carrier mobility. Like the answers below state, the reason silicon has remained popular in the semiconductor industry for so long is due to other factors than its electronic properties.
    – Samuel Weir
    1 hour ago










  • What are those other factors?
    – Shaona Bose
    28 mins ago










  • Gallium arsenide is surely something everyone wants on their roofs
    – PlasmaHH
    36 secs ago















My thesis advisor, who was a professor of materials science & engineering, once told me that silicon is actually not a very good semiconductor compared to germanium and some other semiconductors. For example, silicon doesn't have a particularly high carrier mobility. Like the answers below state, the reason silicon has remained popular in the semiconductor industry for so long is due to other factors than its electronic properties.
– Samuel Weir
1 hour ago




My thesis advisor, who was a professor of materials science & engineering, once told me that silicon is actually not a very good semiconductor compared to germanium and some other semiconductors. For example, silicon doesn't have a particularly high carrier mobility. Like the answers below state, the reason silicon has remained popular in the semiconductor industry for so long is due to other factors than its electronic properties.
– Samuel Weir
1 hour ago












What are those other factors?
– Shaona Bose
28 mins ago




What are those other factors?
– Shaona Bose
28 mins ago












Gallium arsenide is surely something everyone wants on their roofs
– PlasmaHH
36 secs ago




Gallium arsenide is surely something everyone wants on their roofs
– PlasmaHH
36 secs ago










2 Answers
2






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Row material of germanium is about 100 to 1000 times more expansive than silicon.



Furthermore, the science and engineering of silicon is well established.



Also, you don't actually use silicon to make the solar cells, one uses doped silicon N-P junctions to make the cell, and if you want to use solar panel for powering things up, you need some voltage difference.






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    up vote
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    down vote













    I am not an expert on semiconductor physics but from some internet research I have found out that money is not always the deciding factor. Germanium is also sometimes used in semiconductors and has been used as such even before silicon. Germanium is apparently less stable at high temperatures and doesn't handle high power levels as well as silicon does. Also, germanium is less abundant in Earth's crust than silicon.






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      2 Answers
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      2 Answers
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      Row material of germanium is about 100 to 1000 times more expansive than silicon.



      Furthermore, the science and engineering of silicon is well established.



      Also, you don't actually use silicon to make the solar cells, one uses doped silicon N-P junctions to make the cell, and if you want to use solar panel for powering things up, you need some voltage difference.






      share|cite|improve this answer


























        up vote
        3
        down vote













        Row material of germanium is about 100 to 1000 times more expansive than silicon.



        Furthermore, the science and engineering of silicon is well established.



        Also, you don't actually use silicon to make the solar cells, one uses doped silicon N-P junctions to make the cell, and if you want to use solar panel for powering things up, you need some voltage difference.






        share|cite|improve this answer
























          up vote
          3
          down vote










          up vote
          3
          down vote









          Row material of germanium is about 100 to 1000 times more expansive than silicon.



          Furthermore, the science and engineering of silicon is well established.



          Also, you don't actually use silicon to make the solar cells, one uses doped silicon N-P junctions to make the cell, and if you want to use solar panel for powering things up, you need some voltage difference.






          share|cite|improve this answer














          Row material of germanium is about 100 to 1000 times more expansive than silicon.



          Furthermore, the science and engineering of silicon is well established.



          Also, you don't actually use silicon to make the solar cells, one uses doped silicon N-P junctions to make the cell, and if you want to use solar panel for powering things up, you need some voltage difference.







          share|cite|improve this answer














          share|cite|improve this answer



          share|cite|improve this answer








          edited 2 hours ago









          Bruce Becker

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          1486










          answered 2 hours ago









          user9976437

          817




          817




















              up vote
              2
              down vote













              I am not an expert on semiconductor physics but from some internet research I have found out that money is not always the deciding factor. Germanium is also sometimes used in semiconductors and has been used as such even before silicon. Germanium is apparently less stable at high temperatures and doesn't handle high power levels as well as silicon does. Also, germanium is less abundant in Earth's crust than silicon.






              share|cite|improve this answer
























                up vote
                2
                down vote













                I am not an expert on semiconductor physics but from some internet research I have found out that money is not always the deciding factor. Germanium is also sometimes used in semiconductors and has been used as such even before silicon. Germanium is apparently less stable at high temperatures and doesn't handle high power levels as well as silicon does. Also, germanium is less abundant in Earth's crust than silicon.






                share|cite|improve this answer






















                  up vote
                  2
                  down vote










                  up vote
                  2
                  down vote









                  I am not an expert on semiconductor physics but from some internet research I have found out that money is not always the deciding factor. Germanium is also sometimes used in semiconductors and has been used as such even before silicon. Germanium is apparently less stable at high temperatures and doesn't handle high power levels as well as silicon does. Also, germanium is less abundant in Earth's crust than silicon.






                  share|cite|improve this answer












                  I am not an expert on semiconductor physics but from some internet research I have found out that money is not always the deciding factor. Germanium is also sometimes used in semiconductors and has been used as such even before silicon. Germanium is apparently less stable at high temperatures and doesn't handle high power levels as well as silicon does. Also, germanium is less abundant in Earth's crust than silicon.







                  share|cite|improve this answer












                  share|cite|improve this answer



                  share|cite|improve this answer










                  answered 2 hours ago









                  Tatjana Gobold

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