SiOnyx’s Black Silicon process boasts 17%-plus-efficient multicrystalline-silicon PV cells

Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Reddit
Email

SiOnyx has advised that its patented ultrafast laser texturing technology, Black Silicon, has reached 0.3%, absolute, efficiency growth over typical industry baseline solar cells. The company’s 156mm multicrystalline silicon cells, which are manufactured under a partnership with ISC Konstanz, is said to have attained average absolute efficiencies over 17%.

SiOnyx noted that its Black Silicon technology bolsters the efficiency in thinner wafers. Average efficiencies of 16.9% were realized for 150-micron thick multicrystalline cells that were 20% thinner than wafers in current production.

This article requires Premium SubscriptionBasic (FREE) Subscription

Unlock unlimited access for 12 whole months of distinctive global analysis

Photovoltaics International is now included.

  • Regular insight and analysis of the industry’s biggest developments
  • In-depth interviews with the industry’s leading figures
  • Unlimited digital access to the PV Tech Power journal catalogue
  • Unlimited digital access to the Photovoltaics International journal catalogue
  • Access to more than 1,000 technical papers
  • Discounts on Solar Media’s portfolio of events, in-person and virtual

Or continue reading this article for free

The cells were processed and tested at ISC Konstanz with a standard emitter, screen-printed metal and aluminum back surface field. Black Silicon texturing was completed by utilizing a Coherent Aethon tool with a Talisker picosecond laser.

“These results are further validation of the Black Silicon process and its ability to improve the economics of mainstream solar energy – and the technology is ready now,” commented Stephen Saylor, president and CEO of SiOnyx.  “SiOnyx's single-sided texture achieves significantly lower surface reflectance than industry-standard isotexture to improve cell performance.  We boost infrared performance, thus making SiOnyx Black Silicon a great complement to existing selective emitter technologies.”

The company further mentioned that its process results led to a definite improvement in process uniformity and cited standard deviations for cell efficiency and current being reduced by a factor of two with its Black Silicon.

Read Next

May 2, 2025
Sunraycer Renewables has signed two Environmental Attribute Purchase Agreements (EAPAs) with Meta for 310MW of solar PV in Texas, US.
May 2, 2025
A study from researchers at the King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) in Saudi Arabia has shown that a synthetic molecule in the design of a perovskite solar cell can boost its energy efficiency and longevity.
May 2, 2025
The European Commission (EC) has allocated €52 million to nine renewable energy projects as part of its cross-border auction process.
May 2, 2025
The Q2 2025 edition (Volume 42) of our downstream solar PV journal, PV Tech Power, is now available to download.
May 2, 2025
Maxeon shipped just 211MW in the fourth quarter of 2024, driving a year-end revenue of less than half of what was reported in 2023.
May 2, 2025
AEMO said that new renewable energy generation and energy storage projects in the final commissioning phase in the NEM have reached 7GW.

Subscribe to Newsletter

Upcoming Events

Media Partners, Solar Media Events
May 7, 2025
Munich, Germany
Solar Media Events
May 21, 2025
London, UK
Solar Media Events
June 17, 2025
Napa, USA
Solar Media Events
July 1, 2025
London, UK
Solar Media Events
July 1, 2025
London, UK