Feb 21 2011
Suniva has partnered with Varian Semiconductor Equipment Associates to manufacture solar cells by implanting boron using ions.
This partnership will enable Suniva to mass produce its advanced n-type cell product, ARTisun Star with great ease. Due for production during the first quarter of 2012, Star will have up to 20% cell efficiency.
Recently, by implanting phosphorus on p-type wafers, Suniva’s second generation ARTisun Select achieved 19% efficiency. Since February 2010, Suniva and Varian have focused their partnership on utilizing boron implantation and n-type of wafers. Elimination of Light Induced Degradation (LID) in the third generation ARTisun Star cells by using n-type cell ensures durable, low-costing cells with greater efficiency.
Suniva founder and CTO, Dr Ajeet Rohatgi states that with standard screen printing of metal contacts using back-surface field and ion implanted uniform emitter, Fraunhoffer-certified conversion efficiencies of over 19% in 156 mm size n-type production wafers have been achieved.
Additionally, 20+ % efficiencies on many laboratory-scale cells that use Suniva’s superior design for ARTisun Star have been certified by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory.
Source: http://www.suniva.com