Flexible Amorphous Silicon Solar Panel - Waterproof Mini Cells for DIY Projects

Flexible amorphous silicon solar cells — thin-film triple-junction panels laminated in UV-resistant ETFE, from 0.3 W to 1.5 W at 1.5 V. Light, waterproof, and able to be mounted on flat or curved surfaces, or sewn to fabric.

What amorphous thin-film is actually good at

Amorphous silicon is not a lower-grade version of a crystalline panel. It behaves differently, and for some jobs the difference is the reason to choose it.

• Low and indoor light. Thin-film holds a useful share of its output under overcast sky, in shade and under indoor lighting, where a small crystalline cell can fall off sharply. For a device that lives on a desk, in a window or under canopy, this often matters more than peak rating.
• Partial shading is less punishing. The cell structure tolerates uneven illumination better than a small series-connected crystalline string, where one shaded cell can drag the whole panel down.
• Genuinely flexible and light. These bend, weigh grams, and can be attached to curved housings or fabric.
• Low voltage per panel. At 1.5 V nominal these are made to be combined in series to whatever rail your circuit needs, rather than forced into a fixed 5 V or 6 V.

And where it is the wrong choice

• When area is tight and sun is plentiful. Efficiency per square centimetre is well below crystalline. If you have full sun and limited space, a crystalline mini panel gives more watts in the same footprint — see mini solar panels.
• When you need watts, not milliwatts. This range tops out around 1.5 W. Anything charging a battery of meaningful size needs a larger panel.
• Long-duty outdoor power budgets. For sensors that must run through winter, size on a crystalline panel and treat the low-light advantage as a bonus, not the plan.

Typical uses

• Solar lights, garden and decorative lighting
• Small displays, e-paper and indicator devices
• Toys, models, science and classroom projects
• Trickle-charging small cells and supercapacitors in low-power electronics
• Prototype and proof-of-concept builds before committing to a custom laminate

Amorphous silicon solar cell comparison

Wiring notes

• Series for voltage, parallel for current. At 1.5 V nominal and 2.0 V open-circuit, three in series lands near a 4.5 V working point — check your charging circuit's requirement rather than assuming a match.
• Add a blocking diode if the panel is connected directly to a cell or capacitor, so it does not discharge back through the panel at night.
• Do not exceed the rated bend. These are flexible, not foldable; a sharp crease damages the film permanently.

Custom and bulk

Non-standard sizes, outlines, voltages, cable and connector options are built to your drawing, from 1,800 pcs, with samples in 7-14 days. Stock formats ship from inventory with no minimum. Larger flexible formats are in flexible solar panels; to start a custom build see custom solar panels.

Not sure this is the right cell for your device? Send what it has to power, the light it will actually see, and the space available — we will tell you whether thin-film or crystalline is the better fit. Ask an engineer →