This paper reviews recent studies and technological developments on different materials and technologies for monograin layer (MGL) photovoltaics (PV) solar cells conducted at Tallinn University of Technology. It is shown that in spite of improvements in technical parameters of MGL solar cells resulting from research in adsorber layer materials and surface modification, several problems have to be solved before determining the prospects of design. (c) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.