Worldwide partnership between Air Liquide and Sixtron for crystalline-Si solar cells
Air Liquide and Sixtron Advanced Materials announced an exclusive partnership to promote and distribute advanced coating materials to crystalline silicon (“c-Si”) solar cell manufacturers worldwide. This innovative SilexiumTM technology will enable crystalline solar panel producers - which today represent around 70% of all photovoltaic manufacturers - to improve the performance of their solar cells efficiency and reduce costs/Wp without significant up-front capital investment.
Air Liquide and Sixtron Advanced Materials announced an exclusive
partnership to promote and distribute advanced coating materials to crystalline
silicon (“c-Si”) solar cell manufacturers worldwide. This innovative SilexiumTM
technology will enable crystalline solar panel producers - which today represent
around 70% of all photovoltaic manufacturers - to improve the performance of
their solar cells efficiency and reduce costs/Wp without significant up-front capital
investment.
This exclusive agreement will allow Air Liquide to complement its existing
ALOHATM range of advanced precursor materials and propose a new valueadding
gas solution to its c-Si photovoltaic customers worldwide.
Sixtron is a Canadian company whose focus is developing scalable and costeffective
industrial coating systems that improve the performance of solar cells.
The SilexiumTM process solution combines proprietary precursor molecules with
the SunBoxTM gas generation system to deposit new solar cell films.
The agreement will leverage Air Liquide’s leading position in the photovoltaic industry
supply chain. Manufacturers of c-Si solar cells in more than 20 countries do already
benefit from Air Liquide materials management and on-site services infrastructure,
enabling them to now rapidly deploy the SilexiumTM technology to mass production.
Francisco Martins, Vice-President World Business Line Electronics of the
Air Liquide Group, declared: “This global partnership with Sixtron demonstrates
Air Liquide strategic interest to provide its photovoltaic customers with the
safest, most advanced and lowest cost-of-ownership Gases & Precursors
solutions in the market. The photovoltaic market is at the crossroads of
Energy and the Environment, two growth drivers of the Air Liquide group.”
Peter Tyszewicz, President and CEO of Sixtron, said: “Air Liquide’s number one
market position will allow Sixtron to support the crystalline-Silicon solar
industry as it improves cell efficiency and reduces costs.”
Air Liquide Electronics
With over 3,000 employees and €872 million
revenue in 2009, Air Liquide Electronics has
activities in ultra-pure and specialty gases,
new molecules, related equipment and
customized services.
The Electronics division management is
based in Tokyo to enhance its proximity to
the semiconductor, TFT-LCD and PV
markets in Asia.
Contacts:
Corporate Communications
Corinne Estrade-Bordry
+ 33 (0)1 4062 5131
Garance Bertrand
+ 33 (0)1 4062 5962
Investor Relations
Virginia Jeanson
+33 (0)1 4062 5737
Annie Fournier
+33 (0)1 4062 5718
The Si l e x i umT M
technol ogy
The technology combines the use of
proprietary precursor molecules, together
with the Sixtron SunBox gas generation
system, to deposit anti-reflective and
backside passivation coatings on crystalline
silicon solar cells.
The Silexium technology has been qualified
by leading industry PECVD tool
manufacturers.
These films allow the replacement of existing
Silane-based anti-reflective coatings and
significantly reduce the Light Induced
Defects degradation (“LID”) on mono c-Si
cells.
Air Liquide is the world leader in gases for industry, health and the environment, and is present in over 75 countries with 42,300 employees. Oxygen, nitrogen, hydrogen and rare gases have been at the core of Air Liquide’s activities since its creation in 1902. Using these molecules, Air Liquide continuously reinvents its business, anticipating the needs of current and future markets. The Group innovates to enable
progress, to achieve dynamic growth and a consistent performance.
Innovative technologies that curb polluting emissions, lower industry’s energy use, recover and reuse natural resources or develop the energies of tomorrow, such as hydrogen, biofuels or photovoltaic energy… Oxygen for hospitals, homecare, fighting nosocomial infections… Air Liquide combines many products and technologies to develop valuable applications and services not only for its customers but also for society.
A partner for the long term, Air Liquide relies on employee commitment, customer trust and shareholder support to pursue its vision of sustainable, competitive growth. The diversity of Air Liquide’s teams, businesses, markets and geographic presence provides a solid and sustainable base for its development and strengthens its ability to push back its own limits, conquer new territories and build its future.
Air Liquide explores the best that air can offer to preserve life, staying true to its sustainable development approach. In 2009, the Group’s revenues amounted to €12 billion, of which almost 80% were generated outside France. Air Liquide is listed on the Paris Euronext stock exchange (compartment A) and is a member of the CAC 40 and Dow Jones Euro Stoxx 50 indexes.
