Germanium on Silicon: vGe™

One of the key challenges facing the concentrating photovoltaic (CPV) industry, and especially one of the biggest providers – Solar Systems (see Translucent’s organisational structure), is the cost of the high efficiency (typically 40%) photovoltaic cells. As these cells are grown on expensive Ge substrates, the industry is driving for new innovation to bring the cost down. One area that is gaining in interest today is to epitaxially grow high performance multi-junction solar cells (sometimes referred to as TJs or triple junctions) onto virtual germanium templates which are in turn grown onto low cost large silicon wafers. Translucent’s cSOI™ technology platform extends to Ge-on-Si and is scalable to 200mm. Translucent is ready to supply device-ready template wafers to the multi-junction solar cell industry. In summary, Germanium-on-silicon provides a lower cost route to manufacturing multiple junction solar cells for concentrator photovoltaic (CPV) applications.

Translucent News

  • 16-Feb-12 This year's Prism Awards videos are live on the Prism Awards Website.
  • 15-Feb-12 Michael Lebby to speak at SVC's Executive Forum, 12:30pm, 1-May-12, Santa Clara Convention Center.
  • 26-Jan-12 Michael Lebby presented the award for Green Photonics at the Prism Awards Ceremony.
  • 03-Jan-12 Translucent is referenced in an article in the current issue of Semiconductor Today Magazine.
  • 20-Dec-11 Translucent's Michael Lebby gave an invited talk at Honet 2011.
  • 30-Nov-11 Article about Translucent's technology is published in Oct/Nov issue of Semiconductor Today.
  • 12-Oct-11 Translucent visits PIDA in Taiwan.