NEWS REVIEW
Concentrator Solar Cell with World’s Highest Conversion Efficiency of 44.4 percent
5N Plus to install gallium plant In
Sharp concentrator solar cell sets new record
SHARP CORPORATION has achieved the world’s highest solar cell conversion efficiency of 44.4%, using a concentrator triple-junction compound solar cell. These solar cells are used in a lens- based concentrator system that focuses sunlight on the cells to generate electricity.
This latest Sharp breakthrough came about through research and development efforts that are part of the “R&D on Innovative Solar Cells” project promoted by Japan’s New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO). Measurement of the value—which sets a record for the world’s highest concentrating conversion efficiency—was confirmed at the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems (ISE) in Germany.
Compound solar cells typically offer high conversion efficiency while utilizing photo-absorption layers made from compounds of multiple elements,
such as indium and gallium. Sharp’s concentrator triple-junction compound solar cells use a proprietary technology that enables the efficient conversion of sunlight into electricity by means of a stack of three photo-absorption layers, the bottommost of which is made from InGaAs (indium gallium arsenide).
To achieve a concentrating conversion efficiency of 44.4%, Sharp worked to widen the effective concentrator cell surface and ensure uniformity of width at the interface of the connecting concentrator cell and electrodes.
Because of their high conversion efficiency, compound solar cells have thus far been used primarily on space satellites.
Looking to the future, Sharp aims to harness this latest development success and make the use of compound solar cells more feasible in terrestrial applications.
South Korea 5N PLUS INC., a producer of specialty metal and chemical products, will invest in a new gallium chemicals facility to be located in South Korea, one of the fastest growing regions for electronics manufacturing in the world. The new facility should be operational before the end of 2013 and will be located within an industrial park nearby a number of important electronic manufacturing facilities. 5N Plus has entered into an agreement with a local chemical distributor for the supply of operating services and logistics of the new facility.
North East Asia represents the majority of the world’s LED production, and over 70 percent of the world’s electronic tablet display supply. The LED market is expected to grow at a 15-20 percent annual rate in the near to medium term, with growth mainly driven by increasing market penetration for lighting applications.
High purity gallium metal and chemicals also represent essential materials in the manufacture of products such as GaAs electronic components for 3/4G wireless applications, IGZO transparent semiconductor for next generation displays, CIGS thin film solar panels, and GaSb wafers for IR detection and imagery systems.
As a group, these applications are foreseen to drive significant growth in gallium demand in the coming years. This new investment in South Korea should serve as a platform in the future for the manufacture of other high purity materials for the Asian market.
“We are pleased to be able to make this investment in gallium chemicals and demonstrate our commitment to serve our customers wherever in the world they may require our products and services,” says Jacques L’Ecuyer, President and Chief Executive Officer of 5N Plus. 5N Plus has existing gallium chemicals manufacturing facilities in Madison, Wisconsin, USA and in Wellingborough, UK.
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www.compoundsemiconductor.net July 2013
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