The Institute conducts research and development for thin-film solar cells based on amorphous and microcrystalline silicon. In basic research, the processes of layer growth are established and the optical, structural and electronic properties of films and interfaces studied providing optimization criteria for solar cell development. In the foreground of solar cell development are stacked cells of amorphous and microcrystalline silicon. This also includes the development of important functional layers for light coupling and light trapping on the basis of transparent, conductive and light-scattering zinc oxide layers. The layer systems are also developed for applications in the field of sensor technology, above all spatially resolved colour recognition. Small-area solar cell developments are transferred to a module size of 30 x 30 cm2 so as to create the basis for process technology for industrial large-area applications. The aim is to develop a new generation of thin-film solar cells on the basis of tandem cells of amorphous and microcrystalline silicon.