Bid to lower solar cell costs

Dow Corning has signed a three-year contract with IMEC to perform joint research on the next generation of crystalline silicon solar cells.

In the framework of IMEC’s industrial affiliation program (IIAP) on silicon solar cells, Dow Corning has joined several program activities.

With its silicon solar cell IIAP, IMEC has set up a research ecosystem with the aim of creating processes to fabricate the next generation of silicon solar cells. The R&D program concentrates on sharply reducing the silicon use, while increasing the efficiency of the cells that could lower the cost of solar energy.

The collaboration between the two organisations will focus on topics where Dow’s materials can bring enabling solutions for processing and interconnecting future solar cells.

An example is a silicone encapsulant process for integrated cell and module processing. Due to the use of very thin and large wafers, cell processing and module assembly become increasingly challenging.

IMEC and Dow will combine new cell structures with silicone encapsulant processes with a goal of producing modules with ultra-thin cells.

By joining the silicon solar cell IIAP, researchers from Dow will be able to closely collaborate with the research team of IMEC and its silicon solar cell partners to build up fundamental understanding and develop robust material solutions for next-generation silicon-based solar cells.