Our earth is more than 25 percent silicon. It is cheap, harmless, and as ubiquitous as sand in the desert, and in the form of semiconductor devices, it has contributed significantly to the development of modern electronics. So why is it that this handy companion may be phased out of photovoltaic devices in the future, and why will tomorrow's solar cells probably work entirely without it? Maciej Sibiński, professor at the institute of materials and environmental technology, writes.
