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A photoactive layer is used in solar cells for absorbing light. Inorganic layers are made from inorganic materials such as silicon. The film has a layer arangement of electrodes and counterelectrodes with organic layers in between the two. The layer is found underneath the glass, adhesive, and reflection coating, but is the first required part of the cell.

Definition
Photoactive means it can have a chemical reaction with sunlight and/or ultraviolet light. Most of the solar cell is photoactive, but the base of the solar cell only conducts electricity after it has been converted. It can also mean that it responds to photons photoelectricaly. This can also relate to a physical reaction, but this does not occur within photoactive layers.

Efficiency
Layers that are thicker are sometimes prefered because they can absorb more light. While sometimes thinner ones are prefered for greater efficiency. The light must pass through the band gap. For this to work the light must have a minimum energy depending on the cell to pass through. Different cells have a different minimum while the light below the minimum passes through the absorber.