In its report, entitled 'Opportunities in The Solar Cell Market for Thin-Film Technology', The Information Network said it anticipates that about $140 million of glass sheets will be purchased in 2008. Almost all amorphous silicon is manufactured on glass sheets using equipment either developed in-house or from merchant suppliers such as Oerlikon or Applied Materials, added the market research firm.

The gases market is expected to represent about $80 million in 2008 and $110 million in 2010, according to The Information Network.

Indeed, silane, which decomposes to form the silicon layer, is likely to represent 50 percent of those revenues, while other carrier gases such as argon, nitrogen and hydrogen will account for the remaining 50 percent. Air Products and Air Liquide are the main manufacturers of these gases.

"The ramp in amorphous thin film production in the past few years due to shortages in polysilicon will have a big payoff for chemical and materials suppliers," commented Dr. Castellano, president of The Information Network.

He added: "Even though traditional crystalline and polycrystalline silicon solar panels with efficiencies between 15 percent and 22 percent compare to thin film amorphous silicon of 6 percent to 7 percent, nearly 9 percent of solar cell production in 2008 will be amorphous silicon."