Which photovoltaic material is used in the thin-film solar technology abbreviated CdTe?

Cadmium telluride is the photovoltaic material represented by the abbreviation CdTe.

CdTe solar cells are thin-film devices: their light-absorbing semiconductor layer is much thinner than the silicon wafers used in conventional crystalline-silicon panels. The material absorbs sunlight efficiently, allowing manufacturers to deposit it onto glass or another supporting surface.

CdTe technology has been deployed commercially at large scale, especially in utility-scale solar projects. Its advantages include relatively low semiconductor material use and manufacturing processes suited to high-throughput production. The technology also requires careful management of cadmium, a toxic element, throughout manufacturing and end-of-life recycling.

CdTe is often confused with CIGS, another thin-film technology whose name refers to copper, indium, gallium, and selenium. Perovskites are a separate emerging class of photovoltaic absorbers, while amorphous silicon is another thin-film material.