Wedding Thin Film Technology to Bio-Based Substrate
By: Marketwire / Apr. 10, 2007
SANTA CLARITA, CA
Source: BioSolar press release via Marketwire
http://www.sys-con.com/read/359598.htm
BioSolar(TM), Inc. (OTCBB: BSRC), developer of a breakthrough technology to produce thin film, flexible solar cells on bio-based plastic substrates, today announces that the company is launching its development program to produce a proprietary bio-based resin uniquely suited to the rigors required for solar cell production. The methodology the company is developing to create low-cost thin film solar cells is a multi-faceted endeavor, with this newly launched bio-based specialty resin project signaling commencement of the first phase of the development.
Explaining some of the intricacies of the process, Dr. David Lee, BioSolar’s CEO, said, “Our thin film solar cell development is unique because it involves the deposition of thin layers of amorphous silicon directly onto bio-based substrates utilizing a process known as chemical vapor deposition, or CVD. One of the challenges faced by BioSolar is that the current generation of bio-based resins has much lower melting and degassing temperature points than those of conventional petroleum-based plastic substrates. Currently available plastics made from bio-based resins begin to exhibit signs of degradation at processing temperatures used by existing CVD chambers. Therefore, we believe that existing bio-based plastics are not suitable for the manufacture of thin film solar cells, and we have launched our development program to blend the appropriate resins.”
The company’s primary bio-based substrate development effort is to overcome the processing temperature challenge of degassing and deformation of the bio-based substrate material during the thin film deposition process. Lowering the processing temperature will not result in solar cells with desirable characteristics. Therefore, we are developing various ways to correct or overcome these undesirable material properties at the processing temperatures currently used by existing CVD chambers.
The secondary objective of the bio-based substrate development effort is to satisfy the durability and environmental requirements established by conventional petroleum-based plastic substrates. These include electromagnetic properties, mechanical strength, dimensional stability, opacity, reflectivity, hydroscopic properties, weatherability, adhesion, flame resistance, and other traits identified by BioSolar’s engineering and development group.