Leybold Optics at the PVSEC in Hamburg

Leybold Optics GmbH from Alzenau/Germany, one of the world's most highly regarded manufacturers of vacuum systems in the fields of glass & solar and optics, has its own booth at the PVSEC convention and will be presenting innovative, practical products and solutions for all current standard thin film systems (a-Si/?c-Si, CIGS, CIGS-Flex, CdTe).

The Glass & Solar division at Leybold Optics has been developing and producing vacuum systems for the photovoltaic industry, and machines for architecture glass coating, displays and other large-format applications since 2005.

Leybold Optics ensures that its 160 years of experience in vacuum coating flows into the thin film technologies for photovoltaic systems. The company specializes in areas such as sputtering, PECVD (plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition), plasma assisted evaporation, machine automation and software. It has a unique portfolio of thin film applications and is flexible in the substrate size - from one cm2 to 19 m2 - innovative leadership is one of Leybold Optics' top priorities.

CIGS technology

CIGS, also known as CIS, is an abbreviation for the elements that are used: copper, indium, gallium, sulfur and selenium. Compared to crystalline silicon solar cells that have a wafer thickness of around 150 μm, the CIGS technology is only around 3 μm thick which means much less semi-conductor material is used. Leybold Optics offers the full range of vacuum equipment for this thin film technology for all necessary processes: The front contact, absorber layer, back contact, etc.

CIGS systems from Leybold Optics are already being used in large production facilities by world market leaders. They stand out thanks to their process optimized concept and their high level of reliability and availability.

Roll-to-Roll processing

Leybold Optics offers Roll-to-Roll coating systems, also called web-coaters, for complex flexible applications. The process is designed for substrates, such as metal films or flexible plastics, and allows coating methods such as sputtering, evaporation, CVD or a combined solution.

 The substrates are transported via a conveyor from roll to roll during which they are coated in vacuum; the coated surface remains completely untouched. The patented Leybold technology with its 360° design is a fully automatic process that not only allows the production of flexible solar cells but a wide range of other applications too.

EAE technology

The Ruhr University Bochum and Leybold Optics have been working closely to examine the technical feasibility of the electrical asymmetry effect (EAE) for industrial applications for production of silicon thin film solar cells. The objective is the technical application of this unique effect to achieve a much higher deposition rate whilst maintaining the good layer properties.

 Another much more important advantage of the new procedure is that it is possible to continue using the existing plasma systems.

Leybold Optics is a licensee of this patented technology which can be used to control the plasma more effectively. It is believed that it will be possible to significantly increase the deposition rate for micro-crystalline silicon by a factor of two.

The coating system Phoebus from Leybold Optics (PECVD) will be equipped with the new EAE technology in the future. The technology can be retrofitted to existing installed systems. This hardware upgrade also plays an important role in ensuring that Phoebus can be used even more efficiently.

Leybold Optics presented the adaption of this new technology to a scientific public for the first time in July 2011 during the 11th International Symposium on Sputtering & Plasma Process (ISSP) of the University of Tokyo (The Institute for Solid State Physics) in Kyoto.

Image file:

Leybold Optics GmbH, Headquarters, Alzenau/Germany

Image source:

Leybold Optics GmbH, Alzenau/Germany

Meeting point: Leybold Optics

26 EU PVSEC, CCH Congress and International Fair, Hamburg

Exhibition: Monday, 5.09.2011 to Thursday, 8.09.2011, booth: A1 C2

Contact partners:

Patrick Candala, Director Sales and Marketing Division Glass & Solar

Dr. Günter Grabosch, VP Product Management Division Glass & Solar

Jörg Hahn, Manager Sales and Marketing Division Glass & Solar

Lecture: PV Production Forum 2011

Thin Film Session, Tuesday 6th September 2011, 1.30 pm – 6 pm

Jörg Hahn, Manager Sales and Marketing Division Glass & Solar, Leybold Optics

Subject: Advanced Equipment for Thin Film PV Coatings on Glass

Company Profile:

Leybold Optics GmbH is one of the world's leading suppliers of vacuum technology. It also develops

processes and manufactures complex high-end coatings. This reputed thin film specialist sets milestones

in the fields of sputtering, PEVCD, plasma assisted evaporation, automation and software. It

is organised into two divisions: Optics and Glass & Solar. The Glass & Solar division portfolio comprises

vacuum systems for the photovoltaic industry and machines that are used to coat architecture

glass, displays and other large-format applications. The Optics division markets deposition systems

for precision optics, eyeglass coating, the automotive and the electronics industry.

The foundation stone of its success was laid over 160 years ago by the founders and inventors

Ernst Leybold and Wilhelm Carl Heraeus. Their pioneering spirit and dedication to research and the

development of new production procedures is reflected in the market standards that have gained

worldwide recognition since the company was founded. Today, Leybold Optics, which is traditionally

committed to innovation and quality, is a global company that has more than 500 employees across

the world.

Company Contact:

Leybold Optics GmbH

Jörg Hahn

Manager Sales and Marketing Glass & Solar

Siemensstraße 63755 Alzenau Germany

Phone +49 (0)6023 500-0 oder-188

Fax +49 (0)6023 500-9188

joerg.hahn@leyboldoptics.com

www.leyboldoptics.com

Press Contact:

Benson GmbH,

Gisela Benson

Agentur für angewandte Kommunikation

88 Brucker Straße 4

82266 Inning am Ammersee Germany

info@agentur-benson.de

www.agentur-benson.de

Phone +49 (0)8143 44 4473

Fax +49 (0)8143 44 4761

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