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November 4, 2009...Sharp Corporation of Japan reports having achieved what it says is the world’s highest solar cell conversion efficiency of 35.8% using a triple-junction compound solar cell.
Sharp points out that when boosting the efficiency of triple-junction compound solar cells, it is important to improve the crystallinity (the regularity of the atomic arrangement) in each photo-absorption layer (the top, middle, and bottom layer). Sharp also notes that it is crucial that the solar cell be composed of materials that can maximize the effective use of solar energy.
The new solar cell designs, like their previous versions have an indium gallium phosphide top layer. However, instead of having an (indium) gallium arsenide (In)GaAs middle layer, the new design has a gallium arsenide (GaAs) middle layer. Then, instead of having a germanium (Ge) bottom layer, the new design uses an InGaAs bottom layer.
Sharp researchers say that a germanium bottom of previous cells layer can generate a lot of current, but much of it is wasted without being converted to electrical energy.
Sharp succeeded in forming an InGaAs layer with high crystallinity by using its proprietary technology for forming layers. The company says that in this way, the amount of wasted current was minimized. This boosted the conversion efficiency, which had been 31.5% in Sharp’s previous cells to 35.8% in the new cells.
Sharp achieved this efficiency improvement as part of a research and development initiative promoted by Japan’s New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO) on the theme of “R&D on Innovative Solar Cells”. Sharp Corporation News Release Aixtron Gets GaAs MOCVD System Order From ChangelightNovember 4, 2009...Aixtron AG reports that Changelight Co., Ltd., ordered an Aixtron Planetary Reactor system for the production of Gallium Arsenide (GaAs) LEDs.
The Changelight order is for an AIX 2600G3 system in the 49x2-inch wafer configuration. The tool was delivered in the third quarter 2009 to the company’s new facilities in Xiamen (Xiang An) Torch Industry Park of Fujian Province, China.
Mr. Deng Dian Ming, CEO of Changelight Co. Ltd., commented, "We have been working closely with the local Aixtron support team before and they have always been very responsive, thus we are looking forward to further good cooperation.
Changelight is fully committed to the development and large-scale production of III-V-based optoelectronic devices. We have acquired the most advanced equipment for this application which will be used by our highly skilled technical team strongly being supported now by new staff members from the USA and Taiwan." Aixtron News Release SemiLEDs Switches to 4" Wafers to Meet Customer Demand for LED Luminaires
LIGHTimes News StaffNovember 3, 2009...SemiLEDs Corporation of Boise, Idaho USA, announced the successful introduction of the Aixtron Close Coupled Showerhead Crius MOCVD system with 7x4 inch configuration from Aixtron into its 4” Fab. SemiLEDs reports that it has shifted its mass production of VLED to 4 inch wafers. According to SemiLEDs, the shift greatly increases production capacity to meet strong demand for high end applications, such as street or home lighting. SemiLEDs’ state of the art 4 inch LED Fab located in Taiwan will be able to produce 10KK high power VLED when running at full capacity.
SemiLEDs insists that mass production using 4 inch wafers increases its production capacity to keep pace with increasing demand and to shorten lead times for its customers; furthermore, as announced at the China SSL conference 2009, using I-core MvpLED chips, SemiLEDs’ packaging customers have achieved 120lm/watt cool white running at 350mA.
SemiLEDs News Release Intersil and the Georgia Institute of Technology Announce Joint Alliance for Development of Power Management Technologies
CompoundSemi News StaffNovember 2, 2009...Intersil Corporation,announced an alliance with the Georgia Institute of Technology. The alliance includes the opening of a major new development facility and the kickoff of several new research and development of programs for power management semiconductor technologies.
This alliance involves opening a 4,300 square-foot on-campus Analog Processing Center of Excellence (ACE) and world-class research efforts across multiple Georgia Tech facilities. At the Georgia Electronic Design Center (GEDC), Intersil engineers, along with Georgia Tech students and faculty, will focus on developing and creating advanced power management circuit designs. Intersil and the Institute will also jointly develop advanced process technology for semiconductors used in high-voltage power management and distribution.
Intersil says that the new center will also utilize a technique developed at a Georgia Tech-founded company known as collaborative signal processing that removes performance-limiting impairments such as signal loss, dispersion, skew and noise. Intersil and Georgia Tech expect that the developments from the joint alliance will spawn significant power savings in the electrical grid and tomorrow's data centers. Intersil points out that the partnership is built on its longstanding leadership as an expert in the development of power management technologies and recent research advances in semiconductor fabrication processes.
"The clean and efficient generation, transmission and storage of power are key challenges of the twenty-first century," said Dave Bell, CEO, Intersil Corporation. "Intersil is delighted to be working closely with one of the world's finest educational institutions to develop innovative technologies that will meet our needs for smarter, greener and more efficient power solutions." Intersil News Release AT&M Co., Ltd. and Odersun AG to Form Solar Thin-Film Joint Venture in Beijing, China
CompoundSemi News StaffNovember 2, 2009...Advanced Technology & Materials Co., Ltd. (AT&M), a supplier of advanced materials based in China, and Ordersun AG, a German manufacturer of thin-film solar cells and modules announced plans to form a joint venture in Beijing. Ordersun produces copper indium disulfide thin-film on copper tape.
The joint venture will produce and sell solar cells and modules based on Odersun proprietary thin-film technology.
Odersun and AT&M established their relationship in 2004, when AT&M became an early investor in Odersun and a strategic partner in a number of joint research projects. The companies now are joining forces to address the fast-growing market by forming this joint venture.
"Here we have the unique opportunity to address the Chinese market and at the same time to further accelerate innovation at Odersun in cooperation with a highly competent partner," stated Dr. Hein van der Zeeuw, Chief Executive Officer of Odersun AG. "While we continue with our current expansion plans in Germany, our future technology development will benefit from AT&M`s expertise and longtime experience in material technology and manufacturing."
The construction of the joint venture`s manufacturing facilities in China is expected to start during 2010. Ordersun News Release
Low Cost Crystal Growth Among New DOE Funded Research Projects
LIGHTimes News StaffOctober 29, 2009...The U.S. Department of Energy announced 37 ambitious research projects that will receive some $151 million in funding. The DOE says that the projects could fundamentally change the way we use and produce energy. One of the selected projects includes the development of low cost crystals for LED lighting. This project to develop novel crystal growth technology will be by Momentive Performance Materials. The company says the development could dramatically lower the cost of producing light emitting diodes (LEDs). According to Momentive Performance Materials, this higher quality, low-cost material would offer significant breakthroughs in lowering costs of finished LED lighting. DOE News Release Content continues for LIGHTimes SecondPage members... Ascent Solar to Supply CIGS Solar Modules to FTL Solar for NYSERDA Project
CompoundSemi News StaffOctober 28, 2009...Ascent Solar Technologies, Inc., a developer of flexible thin-film copper indium gallium diselenide (CIGS) photovoltaic modules,will be providing modules to FTL Solar for their research and development contract with the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA). According to Ascent Solar, the parties will work on the development of light weight flexible structures that include energy production from Ascent Solar's modules.
Some of the development work will be carried out under a $22,500 collaborative agreement between FTL Solar and the Center for Advanced Microelectronic Manufacturing in Endicott, and the Center for Autonomous Solar at Binghamton University.
Robert Lerner, Chief Technology Officer for FTL Solar stated, “We are pleased to announce our relationship with Ascent Solar. We are confident their light weight flexible high power modules will work well with our existing products as well as future products currently in our product development pipeline.”
NYSERDA President and CEO Francis J. Murray, Jr. said, “NYSERDA is enthused about this company’s potential and is pleased to invest $250,000 toward this $500,000 FTL project that is developing a unique product with so many real-world, right-now applications. Because of its physical attributes and application flexibility, shade and electricity can be realized just about anywhere. From a New York perspective, the potential for this firm to bring product development and manufacturing to the Empire State is very encouraging and supports Governor Paterson’s goal to attract clean energy efficiency manufacturing jobs to our state.”
Ascent Solar News Release SINANO Installs Aixtron System For Rapid Growth of Cabon Nanotube Arrays
CompoundSemi News StaffOctober 28, 2009...Aixtron reports that SINANO, the Suzhou Institute of Nanotech and Nano-bionics of Chinese Academy of Science, recently received its new Aixtron Black Magic carbon nano tube growth tool. During the second quarter of 2009, the Black Magic tool was delivered in a 2 inch wafer configuration. The tool will be used in research and development of carbon nanotube arrays.
Prof. Qingwen Li, from SINANO commented, “Installation and commissioning of the AIXTRON Black Magic system went smoothly and already we have carried out some experiments in both LPCVD and PECVD modes. We used our own catalysts and achieved vertically aligned carbon nanotube arrays with typical growth rates of 60 microns per minute. Using PECVD, a perfectly straight CNT array film could be obtained. SEM images of the two samples synthesized by the two modes showed highly acceptable and reproducible results."
"We now aim to prepare ultralong CNT arrays with controllable structures for nanocomposites and patterned CNT arrays for device fabrication,” said Prof. Qingwen Li added. “The vertical showerhead-based growth reactor, fast heating stage and rapid sample turnaround features have been the crucial factors for our purchasing decision. As to our initial conclusions on the new system, everything has performed as expected. It is very easy to use with a user-friendly interface. In addition, the in-situ monitoring of the growth process is a significant advantage."
Aixtron News Release Xiamen Sanan OptoElectronics in China Selects Veeco MOCVD Systems for Capacity Expansion
CompoundSemi News StaffOctober 26, 2009...Veeco reports that Xiamen Sanan OptoElectronics, a maker of LEDs based in China, ordered
Veeco’s TurboDisc® Metal Organic Chemical Vapor Deposition (MOCVD) Systems to expand their manufacturing capacity of high brightness light emitting diodes (HB-LEDs). Specifically Sanan Optoelectronics ordered the TurboDisc K465 GaN MOCVD System features Veeco's most advanced reactor technology and delivers high throughput for high volume production of GaN-based blue and green HB-LEDs. The TurboDisc E475 As/P MOCVD System is reportedly engineered for high-volume production of red, orange and yellow HB-LEDs. Veeco boasts that it offers a level of process control and reliability unmatched by competing MOCVD technologies.
Mr. Simon Lin, CEO of Sanan, commented, "The addition of Veeco's high productivity MOCVD systems to our manufacturing facilities in Xiamen and Tianjin, China ensures that we can continue to increase output of our market-leading HB-LEDs. We are seeing increased demand for LEDs in such applications as general illumination, TV backlight and outdoor display.”
Bill Miller, Ph.D., Senior Vice President, General Manager of Veeco's MOCVD Operations commented, "We are pleased that Sanan, a key technology leader and the largest manufacturer of HB-LEDs in China, has chosen Veeco’s TurboDisc MOCVD Systems for its capacity expansion. We are looking forward to partnering with Sanan as they increase their high volume production of HB-LED devices."
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