The wafers, produced using IQE’s high-volume MBE tools, were processed by IQE’s strategic partner Solar Junction Corporation, a developer of high efficiency multi-junction solar energy cells for the concentrated photovoltaic (CPV) market. The standard three-junction solar cells are believed to set the new record and demonstrate improved efficiency over Solar Junction’s previous World Record reported in October 2012.

“Breaking a world record is a major achievement, but improving on our most recent record using high-volume production equipment produced in conjunction with our manufacturing partner IQE, and Solar Junction’s fabrication line in Sunnyvale, CA, is dramatically more significant,” said Vijit Sabnis, CEO of Solar Junction. 

“Following our recent announcement of full qualification of our high volume 4 in and 6 in CPV technology, surpassing Solar Junction’s previous cell efficiency record is a massive achievement,” said Dr Drew Nelson, IQE chief executive.

“Improvements in CPV cell efficiencies translate to highly significant overall cost reduction in terms of installation and energy generation in utility scale solar farms. The fact that this has been achieved on production qualified platforms is a major milestone. Furthermore, the transfer of wafer production to IQE’s manufacturing tools enables the Solar Junction team to focus on further improving efficiencies on lattice-matched, multi-junction CPV solar cells using a combination of their unique dilute nitride technology, combined with pre existing IQE IP. This will facilitate seamless technology transfer into high volume manufacture of ultra efficient CPV cells as the conversion efficiency improves further.”