[nanoPost] Oxide-free nanomaterials for thin-film solar cells

Company USA

The company commercialize a novel method of producing commercial quantities of proprietary nanomaterials.

The company’s patented process allows the preparation and handling of nanoparticles while maintaining discrete nanoparticles in a highly concentrated state. The company’s unique reversible encapsulation process facilitates handling, storing, and ease of use of such materials in a wide range of applications. This novel method is the  produces highly dispersed, concentrated, commercial quantities of nanoparticles of virtually any solid material.

The company develops, produces and/or licenses its technology for the production of oxide-free nanomaterials for thin-film solar cells, energetic materials, lead-free solder paste, conductive metal inks and other novel, leading edge applications.

SOLAR CELLS

Solar cells, also known as photovoltaic (PV) cells, convert light energy directly into electrical energy. The conversion efficiency of commercial solar cells ranges from 10% to a maximum of about 18%, with peak electrical power of 100W to 180W per square meter (approximately 10 square feet).

Most commercially available solar cells are manufactured from crystalline silicon wafers, which represent the mature first generation of solar technology. Wafer manufacturing is an expensive process, and semiconductor grade silicon is in short supply.

An alternative semiconductor material for PV cells is copper indium gallium diselenide (CIGS). It is widely recognized that CIGS is the material of choice for the second generation of thin-film based solar cells. CIGS solar cells have been available in the market for several years; however, the manufacture of these cells is typically through an expensive, high temperature and time consuming vacuum deposition process. The company’s technology will enable the application of the CIGS material using off-the-shelf manufacturing equipment, thereby allowing low cost, high through-put and low temperature manufacturing of solar cells on rigid or lightweight flexible substrate.

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