| Product | Abbreviation | (Major) Components | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Personal computer | PC | Integrated circuits (IC) or "Chips" | There is much more ST inside a PC then just chips! |
| Almost anything with a battery inside or a power connection. (Cars, communication entertainment, satellites, MRT machines, ...) | World Economy | Integrated circuits (IC) or "Chips", optoelectronics | The major enabling business for nearly everything |
| Solar cells | Save the world | Cheap large-area semiconductors | See table below |
| Microsystems | MEMS | Si-based special chips | Axiomatic product: Air bag sensor, "DLP" in beamers |
| Diode Lasers | III-V compound Heterojunction | There is one in every DVD player. | |
| Lights | Save the world, part 2 | III-V LED's | Will soon replace the old-fashioned light bulb. |
| Radio frequency identification device | RFID | Very cheap chip (organic semiconductor?), printed antenna | You may have one implanted soon. |
| LCD Flat panel displays | LCD OLED |
transistor matrix plus "liquid crystals" or organic light emitting diodes) | First OLED's are on teh market |
| ... | .... | .... | .... |
| Product=Solar Cell | Remarks |
|---|---|
| "Bulk" Solar Cells | |
| General definition | The light absorbing part is relatively thick (> 100 µm); no substrate for mechanical stability is needed. Nearly all solar cells on roof tops now (=2007) fall into this category; and they are practically always made from Si. |
| Single crystalline Si | Best Mass product in terms of solar cell efficiency (about 21 % by now) |
| "Multi"crystalline Si | Slightly worse and somewhat cheaper than single crystalline Si, but market leader |
| GaAs solar cell | Very good . And very expensive. Some space applications |
| Thin film Solar Cells | |
| General definition | Typically (0.5 - 30) µm film on substrate. |
| Amorphous Si | The classic thin film cell; found in most small-scale applications (watches, pocket calculators, ...). Major performance problems even after > 20 a R&D |
| Nanocrsytalline Si | The solar cell of the future? Not yet in production |
| CuInxGa1-xSeyS1-y | So-called "CIGS" solar cells. Mass production has started. |
| CdTe | Some production; future unclear |
| Organic semiconductors | Max. efficiency at present (2007) around 5 %. We shall see. |
| Specialities | |
| TiO2 plus .... | The so-called "Grätzel Cell". Sintered TiO2 nanoparticles coated with organic molecules absorb the light; carrier transport occurs via the TiO2 and a Redox electrolyte |
| Tandem cells | Several thin layers of semiconductor with different band gaps on top of each other. Very high efficiency and price. |
| Concentrator cells | "Small" high-efficiency cell mounted in the focus of a parabolic mirror. Saves on (expensive) semiconductor on the expense of mirror and positioning device, Only usable in countries with lots of direct sun light (not in S.-H.). Gets hot! |
With frame
1.2.1 Motivation for the Conten