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This I/UCRC CENTER, a partnership between PV industry, universities, national laboratories and the National Science Foundation, focuses on those key research areas essential to reach competitive levels in cost and performance of silicon PV material, PV cells and PV modules, while developing novel breakthrough designs and processes.
The Center carries out a variety of crystalline silicon research programs addressing topics such as crystal growth, impurities and defects in Si, PV device processing, process modeling and simulation, and module issues. These include, but are not limited to:
- Novel breakthrough designs and processes
- Improved impurity and defect engineering for higher performance at lower materials costs
- Methods to minimize power losses created by incorporating large-area cells into modules
- New hydrogen-passivation processes
- New silicon production processes
- Thinner materials and larger cells
- New capital equipment capable of high-volume manufacturing, and sophisticated in-process diagnostics
- New processes and machine tools to create the next generation of manufacturing technology
- Innovations to reduce optical losses
- New or improved electrical contact systems
- Products that last for 30 years, or more, and are simple to install and operate