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The increasing adoption of solar energy as a renewable power source marks a significant shift toward clean, sustainable alternatives to conventional energy forms. A notable development in this field is the advancement of thin monocrystalline silicon (c‐Si) solar cells. Characterized by their lightweight, flexible nature, these solar cells promise to transform the renewable energy landscape with enhanced durability, adaptability, and portability. Amidst the growing demand for sustainable energy solutions, refining and evolving thin c‐Si solar cell technologies is crucial. This review comprehensively examines the latest progress in thin c‐Si solar energy conversion device technologies, offering an extensive overview of current methodologies for producing thin c‐Si films, advanced light trapping techniques, surface passivation strategies, and methods for managing thin wafers. It also explores the wide‐ranging applications of thin c‐Si solar cells. Furthermore, this article sheds light on the techno‐economic aspects, highlighting the intertwined challenges of commercializing these innovative cells. Through an in‐depth analysis of the latest advancements, this review serves as a valuable resource for researchers and industry experts, keeping them abreast of current trends and catalyzing further advancements in thin c‐Si solar cell technology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research introduces a pioneering approach to solar water splitting technology, utilizing an innovative, highly efficient immersed system. The system incorporates a flexible array of electrochemical and photoelectrochemical cells, powered by high‐performance III‐V triple‐junction cells. Remarkably, this method significantly boosts the solar‐to‐hydrogen (STH) conversion efficiency, reaching a record 20.7% under 1 sun illumination, employing earth‐abundant catalysts operating at ambient temperature. These findings highlight extensive scope for further optimization, including minimizing optical transmission losses, mitigating shading effects, and reducing the overpotential of the electrochemical cells, thereby augmenting the STH efficiency to an estimated 28%. Through a comprehensive techno‐economic analysis, a levelized cost of hydrogen (LCOH) of 8.3 USD kg−1 is estimated, forecasting the potential for a reduction to a competitive 1.8 USD kg−1 with improved efficiency, increased capacity factors, and decreased production costs. A sensitivity analysis emphasizes the significant influence of factors such as III‐V cell cost, electrolyzer membrane cost and capacity factor on the LCOH. Overall, this study signifies crucial progress toward a highly efficient and economically viable solar water splitting solution, promising a sustainable route for hydrogen production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]