Sunovia Energy and EPIR partner in next-generation cadmium telluride solar cell development

March 11, 2008
March 11, 2008, Sarasota, FL and Bolingbrook, IL--Sunovia Energy Technologies and EPIR Technologies are partnering to develop the most advanced cadmium telluride (CdTe) solar cells. According to Sunovia and EPIR, the top experts and leading institutions in the world for CdTe now reside with the companies.

March 11, 2008, Sarasota, FL and Bolingbrook, IL--Sunovia Energy Technologies and EPIR Technologies are partnering to develop the most advanced cadmium telluride (CdTe) solar cells. According to Sunovia and EPIR, the top experts and leading institutions in the world for CdTe now reside with the companies.

The solar industry is currently dominated by the use of silicon (Si); however CdTe is growing rapidly in acceptance and now represents the second most utilized solar cell material in the world. Cadmium telluride is also referred to in general terms as a II-VI material because it combines a group two element in the periodic table with a group six element. An extensive knowledge of how to use and combine II-VI materials with Si is critical to accelerating the development of highly efficient, low-cost solar cell systems. The companies have achieved this by securing a world class team of scientist and engineers who have proven their expertise in II-VI materials through the research, development and production of highly efficient II-VI infrared sensors for the military and commercial markets.

Infrared sensors rely heavily on unique CdTe-based II-VI semiconductors to efficiently convert light into electricity. EPIR's expertise in II-VI materials, under the leadership of Siva Sivananthan, has been proven over the past decade and is being transferred to next-generation solar cells and unique manufacturing techniques which will place the companies on the cutting edge of solar-based renewable energy technologies. Sivananthan, the president of EPIR and the director of the Microphysics Laboratory (MPL) at the University of Illinois at Chicago, has pioneered the molecular beam epitaxial (MBE) growth of CdTe on Si since 1984 and is a recognized world leader in this field.

Now EPIR and Sunovia are partnered as one, with plans to use CdTe to greatly enhance the efficiency of Si solar cells and to go even further to produce ultrahigh-efficiency solar cells at a reduced price.

For more information, visit www.sunoviaenergy.com.

Sponsored Recommendations

Brain Computer Interface (BCI) electrode manufacturing

Jan. 31, 2025
Learn how an industry-leading Brain Computer Interface Electrode (BCI) manufacturer used precision laser micromachining to produce high-density neural microelectrode arrays.

Electro-Optic Sensor and System Performance Verification with Motion Systems

Jan. 31, 2025
To learn how to use motion control equipment for electro-optic sensor testing, click here to read our whitepaper!

How nanopositioning helped achieve fusion ignition

Jan. 31, 2025
In December 2022, the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory's National Ignition Facility (NIF) achieved fusion ignition. Learn how Aerotech nanopositioning contributed to this...

Nanometer Scale Industrial Automation for Optical Device Manufacturing

Jan. 31, 2025
In optical device manufacturing, choosing automation technologies at the R&D level that are also suitable for production environments is critical to bringing new devices to market...

Voice your opinion!

To join the conversation, and become an exclusive member of Laser Focus World, create an account today!