Synova, a company specializing in water jet-guided laser technology, has joined a research alliance led by the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems to explore new solar-cell manufacturing methods.
The alliance is investigating the use of Synova's Laser MicroJet (LMJ) technology with liquids other than pure water to prove LMJ's viability for wafering and microstructuring applications. Specifically, the alliance is exploring LMJ for laser chemical processing, an approach that extends beyond laser chemical etching to other processes.
Through this concerted research effort, the alliance members expect to produce an alternative to conventional lasers, chemical processes, diamond blade saws and multi-wire slurry saws, aimed to increase solar cell efficiency while lowering overall cell cost.
