Monocrystalline silicon solar cells with thicknesses below 50 mu m manufactured by the transfer layer process at ipe reach efficiencies as high as 17.0%. We present a thin film solar cell, which is not attached to a glass superstrate, opening new process opportunities, as for example the usage of flexible superstrates. We show a free-standing 47 mu m thin solar cell with a record conversion efficiency eta = 17.0%. (C) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.