Jan 12 2011
Silicon Solar Solutions has recently received a grant from National Science Foundation (NSF) under its Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I program.
The NSF SBIR Phase I will run for a period of six months and sustains researches of high national level importance. The grant valued around $150,000 will allow the company to establish the usage of TAIC procedure in the manufacture of thin-film solar cells.
The SBIR is focused on developing the thin-film solar cells technology of Silicon Solar Solutions. The process known as TAIC will substitute most of the time consuming g and costly production steps involved in the manufacture of conventional polycrystalline thin-film solar cells. The patented TAIC process developed by Silicon Solar Solutions produces a thin film of large textured polysilicon by crystallizing amorphous silicon. The method generates nearly nine times large dimensioned grains than the customary methods of production and produces the grains in the shortest possible time.
According to Silicon Solar Solutions CEO, Douglas Hutchings, the company will utilize the support received from the National Science Foundation in advancing the technology utilized in the production of thin-film solar cells to reduce the cost of production and to enable its local manufacture. The technology deployed by the company has already received the support from institutions such as the Arkansas Science and Technology Authority, Arkansas Economic Development Commission, the University of Arkansas, and the Innovate Arkansas and Green Valley Development.