In the quest to squeeze more power from a solar cell, Harvard University spin-off SiOnyx lasers are used.
The company today announced its third-party testing is Black Silicon laser texturing process increases the efficiency of traditional silicon cells at 0.3 percent. That may sound minor, but solar manufacturers to take about a year to achieve that kind of gain through changes in the process, said Chris Vineis, director SiOnyx solar technology.
The company plans to license its technology, which basically looks at a pattern on the surface of solar grade silicon to manufacturers of solar energy. In the production of traditional silicon solar pure wafer is cut into square, addressed in several steps to make a cell, then mounted on a panel. The process can be adopted by both manufacturers of wafers and cells, Vineis said.
The laser texturing reduces the reflectivity of the silicon, turning dark so they can absorb more light and generate more current. The technology allows manufacturers to use the wafers that are 20 percent thinner, saving 10 percent to 15 percent in cost. Efficiency also yields more consistent between different solar cells, which can vary depending on the crystal structure of the surface, Vineis said.
The performance improvement is measured by the German research institute ISC Konstanz, which found an average efficiency of 17 percent SiOnyx process.
The laser process is designed as a replacement for a chemical step is now used by manufacturers of solar energy. SiOnyx is also developing a laser process to improve the efficiency of 1 percent, which can work with advanced manufacturing techniques now only used by a few solar vendors, Vineis said.
The main business is SiOnyx image sensors, such as chips night vision goggles and other applications. In that case, the company plans to manufacture and sell silicon chips themselves, rather than technology licenses, Vineis said.
SiOnyx laser texture is one of several techniques are developing technology companies to make a gradual improvement in solar cell efficiency and the cost for the modification of existing production lines.
The company today announced its third-party testing is Black Silicon laser texturing process increases the efficiency of traditional silicon cells at 0.3 percent. That may sound minor, but solar manufacturers to take about a year to achieve that kind of gain through changes in the process, said Chris Vineis, director SiOnyx solar technology.
The company plans to license its technology, which basically looks at a pattern on the surface of solar grade silicon to manufacturers of solar energy. In the production of traditional silicon solar pure wafer is cut into square, addressed in several steps to make a cell, then mounted on a panel. The process can be adopted by both manufacturers of wafers and cells, Vineis said.
The laser texturing reduces the reflectivity of the silicon, turning dark so they can absorb more light and generate more current. The technology allows manufacturers to use the wafers that are 20 percent thinner, saving 10 percent to 15 percent in cost. Efficiency also yields more consistent between different solar cells, which can vary depending on the crystal structure of the surface, Vineis said.
The performance improvement is measured by the German research institute ISC Konstanz, which found an average efficiency of 17 percent SiOnyx process.
The laser process is designed as a replacement for a chemical step is now used by manufacturers of solar energy. SiOnyx is also developing a laser process to improve the efficiency of 1 percent, which can work with advanced manufacturing techniques now only used by a few solar vendors, Vineis said.
The main business is SiOnyx image sensors, such as chips night vision goggles and other applications. In that case, the company plans to manufacture and sell silicon chips themselves, rather than technology licenses, Vineis said.
SiOnyx laser texture is one of several techniques are developing technology companies to make a gradual improvement in solar cell efficiency and the cost for the modification of existing production lines.
