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

October 26, 2011
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

Try Premium for just $1

  • Full premium access for the first month at only $1
  • Converts to an annual rate after 30 days unless cancelled
  • Cancel anytime during the trial period

Premium Benefits

  • Expert industry analysis and interviews
  • Digital access to PV Tech Power journal
  • Exclusive event discounts

Or get the full Premium subscription right away

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

October 23, 2025
Spanish power electronics specialist Ingeteam has won a contract to supply inverters and control systems for European Energy Australia's 100MW Winton North solar-plus-storage project in northeast Victoria.
October 23, 2025
Powerlink Queensland is seeking federal approval to expand its existing 330kV Bulli Creek Substation in Southern Queensland to accommodate the grid connection of Genex Power's 775MW Bulli Creek solar PV power plant.
October 23, 2025
Queensland's rooftop solar systems have exceeded 5GW of output for the first time, marking a milestone in Australia's solar expansion.
October 22, 2025
Recurrent Energy, Ampliform and Dimension Energy have announced new financing rounds this month for US solar projects.
Sponsored
October 22, 2025
LONGi vice president Dennis She discusses the value logic behind the company's strategic focus on back contact technology.
October 22, 2025
Leeward Renewable Energy has started commercial operations at its 177MW Ridgely solar project in the US state of Tennessee.

Subscribe to Newsletter

Upcoming Events

Solar Media Events
November 25, 2025
Warsaw, Poland
Solar Media Events
December 2, 2025
Málaga, Spain
Solar Media Events
February 3, 2026
London, UK
Solar Media Events
March 10, 2026
Frankfurt, Germany