Photovoltaic (PV) devices, or solar cells, are seen as a clean and sustainable source of power for infrastructure, utilities, vehicles, etc. There are numerous types of solar cells; dye-sensitized, thin absorber, single crystal, polycrystalline Si, multi-junction, etc. This energy subsector is growing in terms of power production (estimated to hit 320-420GW worldwide in 2018) and economic investment (over $120 billion by/in G-20 nations in 2011). Strategic placement of 20% efficiency or better solar panels over a land area the size of Spain spread worldwide is theorized to be able to power the world carbon emission free in 2030. Efforts and research to improve efficiency and cut cost are current and key in this industry.
Sonaer nozzles and automated coating systems can be utilized to clean and etch glass and other substrates, coat graphene or other transparent conductive materials as electrodes, spray matrix and dye materials for dye-sensitized solar cells, or controlled layers of multiple different materials potentially for multijunction or thin absorber photovoltaics. In addition, Sonaer can produce spray pyrolysis or AACVD systems for the production of thin films or nanomaterials used in photovoltaic applications. Sonaer nozzles can also potentially be utilized to spray anti-reflective coatings on PV devices as well.
Ultrasonic spray deposition solution is delivered to the ultrasonic nozzle, creating a spray with uniform-diameter droplets. The spray is focused onto the substrate using nitrogen as the carrier gas. With the Sonaer dove tail spray shaper, droplets are atomized with the nozzle and the carrier gas is used to spreads the uniform droplets over a wider area. Controlling the flow of solution, carrier gas and exposure of droplets, uniform material thickness is easily deposited on the substrate.
This product attaches directly around the atomizer nozzle and a small gas flow is used to focus droplets to a pin point. The nozzle works with liquid through the center orifice and the gas surrounds the droplets making them sharp.
Sonaer flat spray attachment provides coverage in a rectangular area. The shaper spreads droplets in a consistent thin uniform direction with very little overspray. Thickness is nano to microns and is adjusted by the scientist for the application being developed.
Sonaer wide vortex spray attachment uses a small gas pressure to coat large areas with low volume of droplets. Droplets are dispersed over a wide area and provide a thin uniform coverage.
