Materials IP developer Applied Nanotech has signed an R&D agreement with Sichuan Yinhe Chemical Co (YHCC) and thin silicon manufacturer Solexel.
YHCC has the exclusive rights to Applied Nanotech’s solar ink and paste technology and will produce the 1000 tonnes of the materials at a new plant in Sichuan Province.
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The deal will see the technology commercialised in the cells of California-based Solexel.
The company achieved a world record of 20.62% efficiency from a 156 mm x 156 mm full-square solar cell using its low cost ultra thin epitaxial silicon film and porous silicon lift-off technology. Now the trio are eying improvement to raise this efficiency to 22%.
“We will continue to improve our aluminium metallization material under this agreement and expect to achieve even higher efficiencies with Solexel in the future,” said Zvi Yaniv, CEO of Applied Nanotech.
“This is another example of our R&D and commercialisation capability. Our business model has focused on licensing our technologies to others and providing R&D services,” explained Yaniv. “However, in this case, we are involved directly in the commercialisation of our technologies that have very large market potential. The royalty that we receive from YHCC related to the sales of their solar paste products will be critical for our cash flow in 2014.”
YHCC has already begun its marketing and sales efforts for Aluminium and Silver pastes for solar cells.