The II-IV semiconductor compound, CdTe, has suitable electrical and optical properties as photovoltaic and high-energy radiation sensor material. As an absorber material for thin-film-based solar cells, CdTe holds the potentiality to fabricate high-efficiency solar cells by means of low-cost technologies. This chapter presents a comprehensive review on the CdTe thin-film deposition techniques as well as on the several configurations for the solar cell structures that have led the best efficiency conversion. Current CdTe thin-film deposition techniques include sputtering, close spaced vapor transport (CSVT), chemical spray pyrolysis, and electrodeposition. These techniques have easily been adapted to deposit polycrystalline CdTe films on various flexible and rigid substrates. In regard to the device structure configuration, a variety of partner materials (transparent contact, optical window, buffer layer) were tested, and CdTe film thickness was varied to develop opaque and semitransparent devices by some techniques mentioned above. In this chapter, we will discuss about each technique used for CdTe thin-film deposition as well as its advantages and disadvantages.

Bifacial photovoltaic technology is made up of solar cells with the ability to generate electrical power on both sides of the cell (front and rear), consequently, they generate more energy in the same area compared to conventional or monofacial solar cells. The present work deals with the calculation of the energy yield using bifacial solar cells under the specific environmental conditions of Tampico, Tamaulipas, Mexico. Two configurations were compared: (1) tilted, optimized in height and angle, oriented to the south, and (2) vertically optimized in height, oriented east–west. The results were also compared with a standard monofacial solar cell optimally tilted and oriented south. The experimental data were acquired using a current–voltage (I-V) curve tracer designed for this purpose. This study shows that the vertically optimized bifacial solar cell produces similar electrical power to the conventional monofacial solar cell, with the benefit of maximum production in peak hours (8:30 and 16:30). In contrast, in the case of the inclined bifacial solar cell, about 26% more in the production of electrical power was reached. These results guide similar studies in other places of the Mexican Republic and regions with similar latitudes and climate.