Solar　power,　an　emerging　representative　of　sustainable　resources,　remains　a　critical　solution　to　the　growing　requirement　for　energy.　In　recent　years,　huge　efforts　have　been　devoted　to　developing　solar　power　conversion,　leading　to　the　rapid　development　of　the　global　photovoltaic　(PV)　market.　As　the　first-generation　solar　cells,　silicon　solar　cells,　particularly　crystalline　silicon　(c-Si)　solar　cells,　still　dominate　the　PV　industry.　However,　many　factors　constrain　their　efficiency　to　a　great　extent,　including　the　surface　recombination　of　photogenerated　electrons　and　holes　and　the　reduction　of　light　absorption　on　the　front　surface.　To　overcome　these　problems,　many　techniques　have　been　investigated.　This　paper　presents　an　overview　of　high-efficiency　silicon　solar　cells＇　typical　technologies,　including　surface　passivation,　anti-reflection　coating,　surface　texturing,　multi-junction　solar　cell,　and　interdigitated　back　contact　solar　cell.　The　working　principles,　characteristics,　and　some　recent　research　of　these　techniques　are　discussed　in　this　article.　©　Published　under　licence　by　IOP　Publishing　Ltd.