They are manufactured by depositing a thin layer of copper, indium, gallium and selenide on glass or plastic backing, along with electrodes on the front and back to collect current. Because the material has a high absorption coefficient and strongly absorbs sunlight, a much thinner film is required than of other semiconductor materials.
Within the thin film solar cell sector, as of 2016, there are mainly two technologies that compete – CIGS/CIS and CdTe. While the main proponent of CdTe is the US based First Solar, the prominent company that makes CIGS cells is Japan-based Solar Frontier.
And yes, CIGS/CIS cells are commercially deployed and in over 1 GW of installations worldwide.
You Might Want to Check Out these Questions Too on Types of Solar Panels
- What is a Crystalline Silicon/c-Si Solar Cell/Module?-Here
- How do Monocrystalline Solar Panels Compare with Polycrystalline Solar Panels?-Here
- What is an Amorphous Silicon (a-Si) Solar Module? Is it Used Now?-Here
- What are CdTe (Cadmium Telluride ) Thin Film Solar Cells? Are These Commercially Available?-Here
- What is a CIS Solar Module? Are These Commercially Available Today?-Here
- What are Bifacial Solar Cells? Are they Commercially Available?-Here
- What are Concentrating Photovoltaics (CPV)? What are their Benefits?-Here
- What Single-junction Solar Cells? How are they Different from Conventional Solar Cells?-Here
- What is a Tandem Solar Cell? How is it Different from the Conventional Solar Cell?-Here
- What is a Transparent Solar Cell? And What are Its Advantages Over Conventional Cells?-Here
- What are Heterojunction Solar Cells? Are these Commercially Available?-Here
- What is the Smallest Sized Solar Panel Available Currently?-Here
- What is the Largest Capacity/Size Solar Panel Currently?-Here
- What are n-type Solar Cells? And how are they Different from p-type Cells?-Here
- What are Multi-junction Solar Cells? How are They Different from Conventional Solar Cells?-Here