Atlumin Energy’s customized ‘barking’ rotary sputtering targets offer maximum material utilization

Atlumin Energy has begun fabricating monolithic `barking’ (dog bone) rotary molybdenum sputtering targets for solar thin-film module manufacturing. Barking targets offer superior material utilization, while monolithic targets offer higher density and higher purity than traditionally fabricated targets.

 

Problem

 

Thin-film solar module manufacturers are faced with accelerated wear of their targets at the turnaround in the magnetic field, resulting in target material waste and a need for more frequent target change outs. While the ends of the target represent a small portion of the overall target area, accelerated wear at the ends means that the majority of the main body of the target isn’t fully sputtered and therefore isn’t fully utilized.

 

Solution

 

Atlumin’s barking configuration enables customers to make full use of their sputtering target materials by addressing accelerated wear at the ends of rotary targets. With added thickness at the ends of the target, these monolithic barking molybdenum targets are designed to compensate for the magnetic characteristics of specific sputtering tools and offer maximized material utilization, enabling fewer target change outs and allowing longer run times between target changes.

 

Applications

 

Thin-film sputtering. Molybdenum and sodiumdoped molybdenum can be customized for creation of the back contact in PV thin-film applications including CIGS and CdTe.

 

Platform

 

The physical dimensions can be customized to fit the unique requirements of each solar manufacturer.

 

Availability

 

Currently available.