20 September 2012
Applied Materials, Inc. will highlight its latest innovations in solar technology at the 27th European Solar Energy Conference and Exhibition (EU PVSEC) on 24-28 September 2012 at the Frankfurt Messe (hall 3, booth G-10) in Frankfurt, Germany. Applied’s advances are focused on customers looking for powerful, easy-to-implement solutions to boost cell efficiency and lower manufacturing costs while delivering rapid return on investment (ROI).
These new technologies include:
• Fine-Line Double-Print technology: Used to optimise the conducting lines of a solar cell by making them taller and narrower, Fine-Line Double-Printing can reduce expensive front silver paste usage by 20% to less than 110 milligrams (mg) per wafer, while simultaneously increasing cell efficiency by 0.2% absolute (abs).
• Advanced wire-saw technology: Compatible with both diamond wire and structured wire slurry systems, Applied’s new High Tension Upgrade Kit can double cutting speed with virtually no impact on the yield or system footprint of its precision wafering and squaring systems. Applied is also now offering for select applications its unique, high-strength, structured wire technology as an option for customers’ Applied HCT B5 wire saws. Providing more than 20% productivity improvement, more than 15% energy reduction and a 20% or more reduction in wire consumption, structured wire enables a significant increase in HCT B5 performance.
• Solion ion implanters: Providing advantages over traditional doping methods, the system increases p-n junction quality to deliver efficiencies of more than 20% using advanced cell structures. These efficiency gains, combined with the elimination of phosphorus-doped silicate glass (PSG) clean and isolation steps, lower the cost per watt for cell manufacturers. Multiple Solion systems are already in high volume production.
Applied will also present nine papers at EU PVSEC 2012. The first presentation, “High Efficiency Back Contact Solar Cell via Ion Implantation” on Monday, 24 September from 1:30 p.m. to 3:00 p.m., will be a joint paper with Samsung.
