RF Micro Devices Inc. (RFMD), a designer and manufacturer of semiconductor components, has entered into a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Department of Energy's National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) to develop a commercially viable and high volume-capable compound semiconductor-based process for high-performance photovoltaic cells.
The successful execution of the multi-year Cooperative Research And Development Agreement (CRADA) is expected to result in the production of PV cells in RFMD's high-volume compound semiconductor fabs as early as calendar year 2012, using technology that is capable of best-in-class solar cell conversion efficiency, according to NREL and RMFD.
NREL says that its technology has demonstrated one of the world's highest reported solar cell conversion efficiencies, at 40.8%, and continued substantial improvements in efficiency are anticipated.
SOURCES: RF Micro Devices Inc., NREL
