Objective HIGH-EF will provide the silicon thin film photovoltaic (PV) industry with a unique process allowing for high solar cell efficiencies (potential for >10%) by large, low defective grains and low stress levels in the material at competitive production costs. This process is based on a combination of melt-mediated crystallization of an amorphous silicon (a-Si) seed layer (<500 nm thickness) and epitaxial thickening (to >2 µm) of the seed layer by a solid phase crystallization (SPC) process. Melting the a-Si layer and solidifying large grains (about 100 µm) will be obtained by scanning a beam of a diode laser array. Epitaxial thickening of the large grained seed layer (including a pn-junction) is realized by deposition of doped a-Si atop the seed layer and a subsequent SPC process by way of a furnace anneal. Such a combined laser-SPC process represents a major break-through in silicon thin film photovoltaics on glass as it will substantially enhance the grain size and reduce the defect density and stress levels of multi-crystalline thin layers on glass compared e.g. to standard SPC processes on glass, which provide grains less than 10 µm in diameter with a high density of internal extended defects, which all hamper good solar cell efficiencies. It is, however, essential for the industrial laser-SPC implementation that such a process will not be more expensive than the established pure SPC process. A low cost laser processing will be developed in HIGH-EF using highly efficient laser diodes, combined to form a line focus that allows the crystallization of an entire module (e.g. 1.4 m x 1 m in the production line or 30 cm x 39 cm in the research line) within a single scan. Specific attention has been given to identify each competence needed for the success of the project and to identify the relevant partners forming a balanced, multi-disciplinary consortium gathering 7 organizations from 4 different member states with 1 associated country. Fields of science agricultural sciencesagriculture, forestry, and fisheriesagriculturegrains and oilseedsengineering and technologymaterials engineeringcoating and filmsnatural scienceschemical sciencesinorganic chemistrymetalloidsnatural sciencesphysical sciencesopticslaser physicsengineering and technologyenvironmental engineeringenergy and fuelsrenewable energysolar energyphotovoltaic Keywords epitaxy multicrystalline silicon solar cell thin film Programme(s) FP7-ENERGY - Specific Programme "Cooperation": Energy Topic(s) ENERGY-2007-2.1-06 - Alternative approaches for crystalline silicon PV Call for proposal FP7-ENERGY-2007-1-RTD See other projects for this call Funding Scheme CP-FP - Small or medium-scale focused research project Coordinator LEIBNIZ-INSTITUT FUER PHOTONISCHE TECHNOLOGIEN E.V. EU contribution € 550 780,00 Address Albert Einstein strasse 9 07745 Jena Germany See on map Region Thüringen Thüringen Jena, Kreisfreie Stadt Activity type Research Organisations Administrative Contact Frank Sondermann (Mr.) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Total cost No data Participants (7) Sort alphabetically Sort by EU Contribution Expand all Collapse all CSG SOLAR AG Germany EU contribution € 211 340,00 Address Sonnenallee 06766 Thalheim See on map Activity type Private for-profit entities (excluding Higher or Secondary Education Establishments) Administrative Contact Jens Schneider (Dr.) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Total cost No data OCLARO SWITZERLAND GMBH Switzerland EU contribution € 650 348,00 Address Binzstrasse 17 8045 ZURICH See on map Activity type Private for-profit entities (excluding Higher or Secondary Education Establishments) Administrative Contact Bruno Hoefliger Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Total cost No data HORIBA FRANCE SAS France EU contribution € 334 780,00 Address 14 BOULEVARD THOMAS GOBERT PASSAGE JOBIN YVON CS 4 91120 Palaiseau See on map Region Ile-de-France Ile-de-France Essonne Activity type Private for-profit entities (excluding Higher or Secondary Education Establishments) Administrative Contact Lydie Vinot (Ms.) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Total cost No data CENTRE NATIONAL DE LA RECHERCHE SCIENTIFIQUE CNRS France EU contribution € 272 554,00 Address RUE MICHEL ANGE 3 75794 Paris See on map Region Ile-de-France Ile-de-France Paris Activity type Research Organisations Administrative Contact Denis Fix (Mr.) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Total cost No data EIDGENOSSISCHE MATERIALPRUFUNGS- UND FORSCHUNGSANSTALT Switzerland EU contribution € 479 078,00 Address UEBERLANDSTRASSE 129 8600 Dubendorf See on map Region Schweiz/Suisse/Svizzera Zürich Zürich Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Administrative Contact Johann Michler (Dr.) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Total cost No data AYMING France EU contribution € 98 180,00 Address RUE CHAPTAL 114 92300 Levallois-Perret See on map Region Ile-de-France Ile-de-France Hauts-de-Seine Activity type Private for-profit entities (excluding Higher or Secondary Education Establishments) Administrative Contact Nicolas Marin (Mr.) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Total cost No data MUSZAKI FIZIKAI ES ANYAGTUDOMANYI KUTATOINTEZET - MAGYAR TUDOMANYOS AKADEMIA Hungary EU contribution € 267 500,00 Address Konkoly Thege Miklos ut 29-33 1121 BUDAPEST See on map Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Administrative Contact Vera Somogyi (Ms.) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Total cost No data