Given below are two statements

Statement I: Photovoltaic cells are often made up of crystal silicon

Statement II: Photovoltaic cells are also made up of inexpensive amorphous silicon, which is like ordinary glass and has crystal properties.

In light of the above statements, choose the most appropriate answer from the options given below

The correct option is: Both Statement I and Statement Il are correct

Explanation of Statement I:
Photovoltaic (PV) cells, which convert sunlight directly into electricity, are most commonly manufactured using silicon. Crystalline silicon (c-Si), which includes both monocrystalline and polycrystalline silicon, is the industry standard and dominant material used in solar panels due to its high efficiency and stability. Therefore, Statement I is correct.

Explanation of Statement II:
Amorphous silicon (a-Si) is a non-crystalline, thin-film alloy of silicon. Unlike crystalline silicon, which has a highly ordered atomic structure, amorphous silicon has a disordered atomic structure, making it structurally similar to ordinary glass. It is much cheaper and easier to manufacture in large areas than crystalline silicon, making it an inexpensive alternative. Despite its disordered, glass-like structure, it retains semiconductor properties (often referred to as having crystal-like electronic properties in a photovoltaic context, such as a defined energy band gap) that allow it to absorb light and generate electricity. Therefore, Statement II is also correct.