Screen-printed solar cells were first developed in the 1970's. As such, they are the best established, most mature solar cell fabrication technology, and screen-printed solar cells currently dominate the market for terrestrial photovoltaic modules. The key advantage of screen-printing is the relative simplicity of the process.

Screen-printed solar cells typically use a simple homogeneous diffusion to form the emitter where the doping is the same beneath the metal contacts and between the fingers. To maintain low contact resistance, a high surface concentration of phosphorous is required below the screen-printed contact. However, the high surface concentration of phosphorous produces a "dead layer" that reduces the cell blue response. Newer cell designs can contact shallower emitters, thus improving the cell blue response.