The cadmium content of cadmium telluride thin film solar cells is approximately 7g/m2 (generally within the range of 3-10 g/m2), and it mainly exists in the form of cadmium telluride. The cadmium content in thin film solar cells is proportional to the area of the cell and the thickness of the CdTe and CdS thin film solar layer. A one square meter solar cell has an average cadmium content of 2.9 grams per micrometer thickness of cadmium telluride thin film solar layer, and approximately 3.7 grams per micrometer thickness of cadmium sulfide thin film solar layer. In general technology, the thickness of the cadmium telluride thin film solar layer is about 1-3 microns, while the thickness of the cadmium sulfide thin film solar layer is about 0.2 microns. That is to say, the cadmium content in the cadmium telluride thin film solar layer is about 3-9 grams per square meter of battery cells, while the cadmium content in the cadmium sulfide thin film solar layer is less than 1 gram. Moreover, with the development of research and industry processes, the thickness of thin film solar layers will continue to decrease, which means that the cadmium content in cadmium telluride batteries will also continue to decrease.

Reference:

Anderson, B. A. (2000). "Materials availability for large-scale thin film photovoltaics." Progress in Photovoltaics, 8, pp. 61-76.

Zweibel, K. (1997). "Reducing ES&H impacts from thin film PV." Environmental Aspects of PV Power Systems, Utrecht University, The Netherlands.

Zweibel, K. (1999). "Issues in thin film PV manufacturing cost reduction." Solar Energy Materials and Solar Cells, 59, pp. 1-18.