The TCO film layer is a critical part of the thin film PV panel that allows sunlight to enter the cell without significant transmission losses and forms a low-resistance contact layer.
“Glass customers are very excited about our TCO capability since it allows them to easily transition their existing coating systems to a new market,” said Jim Scholhamer, general manager of Applied’s Display and Glass Product Group. “This order represents a major milestone in the supply of coating solutions on glass to the thin film PV market and underscores the efforts being made by Applied to help drive down the cost per watt of energy. We are continuing to invest significantly in the research and development of these materials to deliver additional thin film PV applications for the future.”
Applied Material’s vacuum coating systems are widely used across by the architectural and automotive glass industry, allowing glass manufacturers to produce functional glass greater than 18 square meters in size. Providing high coating capacity, flexibility, speed and throughput, Applied’s coating systems are well-suited for large scale thin film PV applications where they can enable glass manufacturers to produce high-value products at competitive cost.
Applied Materials, Inc. (Nasdaq:AMAT) is the global leader in Nanomanufacturing Technology™ solutions with a broad portfolio of innovative equipment, service and software products for the fabrication of semiconductor chips, flat panel displays, solar photovoltaic cells, flexible electronics and energy efficient glass. At Applied Materials, we apply Nanomanufacturing Technology to improve the way people live. Learn more at www.appliedmaterials.com.
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CONTACT: Betty Newboe (media) 408-563-0647
betty_x_newboe@amat.com
Applied Materials’ Vacuum Coater Purchased by Glass Manufacturer for Solar PV Applications
Applied Materials, Inc. reports that it has received an order for an Applied Glass Coating system from a glass manufacturer to deposit transparent conducting oxide (TCO) films on large-area glass substrates for the solar photovoltaic (PV) market.