DuPont Microcircuit Materials (MCM) has developed a roadmap of proposed technology options to help enable the industry goal for conversion efficiency of crystalline silicon (c-Si) solar cells beyond 20 percent by 2012. This will be made possible through innovative material and process technology improvements of DuPont Solamet brand photovoltaic metallization pastes. With several new Solamet products in its development pipeline, DuPont continues to put science to work by increasing the efficiency and lifetime of photovoltaic cells and modules, lowering total system costs, and driving to reach grid parity faster.

“In the race toward higher efficiency, both evolutionary and revolutionary changes are needed to win,” said Peter Brenner, global marketing manager, photovoltaics – DuPont Microcircuit Materials. “New photovoltaic metallization pastes are evolving now, and the development of more revolutionary metallization technologies ahead is key to achieving the industry goal of greater than 20 percent efficiency within the next couple of years.”

DuPont expects that a number of new Solamet photovoltaic metallization pastes will be developed and made available to enhance the efficiency of solar cells and help the industry reach its conversion efficiency goals. The recently introduced Solamet PV16x series frontside silver paste system, which the company said has the ability to increase efficiency by up to 0.4 percent, is an example of what will become an expanding portfolio of anticipated new offerings.