Solar Cells Crystallized Out of Molten Silicon

Hot Toddy sends in a link to a story up on Digital World Tokyo about a more efficient process for manufacturing solar cells. It involves dropping molten silicon from a height of 14 m; surface tension causes tiny spheres 1 mm in diameter to form; the silicon crystallizes in the 1.5 seconds of free-fall. The spheres can be mounted on surfaces of any shape. They capture light from many directions, increasing their solar efficiency. Kyosemi is the company behind the Sphelar technology. Some of the pages on this site date to 2003 and the status of most listed Sphelar products is either "under development" or "engineering sample is available."

Comments

Melbourne Central shot tower

[Nefarious Wheel]

In the city of Melbourne, deep down in the Antipodes, a very tall (50M) 19th century shot tower is enclosed in a dome in the city centre, above the Melbourne Central train station http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coops_(Melbourne_Central)_Shot_Tower.

So let me be the first to say it -- ours is bigger than yours!

Accidental discovery

[werdnapk]

Sounds like one of those accidental discoveries...

"Ah crap, I just knocked over the vat of molten silicon we had sitting on the roof ledge!! My boss is gonna be super mad at.... oh hey, look at all these little balls! Weeee, silicon balls!"

Re:Accidental discovery

[Anonymous Coward]

Silicone balls - for those less endowed.

Re:Melbourne Central shot tower (OT)

[kanweg]

Yeah, but pointing down.

Bert

Crystallized, huh?

[Anonymous Coward]

You know, a crystal structure sure has a lot of surface area compared to its weight, maybe, just maybe -- no! definitely, it's an idea, I feel it coming, it's, it's -- a-hem:

I HAVE A DREAM.
I have a dream,
That one day,
Crystallized solar cells will be so light
And so cheap
That you could spray them on a helium balloon.
And that you will.
On half of the balloon.

Only the balloon is parabolic.
And the inside is coated -- half of it,
Yes, forming the shape of a dish,
With something that reflects radiowaves.
And I have a dream
That one day there will be a wireless networking chip so light
And so cheap
That you can buy it in packs of ten.
And you will.
And you will tape it outside that parabolic balloon
Opposite and facing the side
With the insides all radioreflective, facing out like a radar dish.
And the outsides -- the top of the balloon,
And of the part all coated to be radioreflective
Will be crystallized solar cells.
And the power output from the crystallized solar cells
You will run around to power the wireless chip across from the painted side,
Which you will connect with another wireless chip at the base of the balloon,
Facing down.
Into your house.
Repeating the signal.

And then you will fill the balloon with helium and set it free.
Free to float with the wind, tethered to the top of your house.
Four of them, one at each corner of your house.
Turning randomly with the wind.
Like radar dishes.
Only, higher -- much, much, higher.
Like a radio tower.
Because you will tether them with very long string.

And slashdot will report it.
And hundreds of other geeks in your metro area will do the same.
And you will all get good wifi,
Jumping from hotspot to hotspot
As the balloons turn.

And the story will be reposted.
But it will not be a dupe.
Because I have a dream, that the dupe will be with a wireless chip
That does mesh networking.
Yes, one day, in the not so distant future,
Rich little slashdotters and poor little slashdotters
Will fly solar-powered helium balloons
With radio-reflective coated insides,
And mesh networking wireless chips,
And you will forward all the appropriate ports,
And be network neutral,
And it will cost you $7.50
Which will amortize over
Forever.

Bilbo-speak in TFA

[chudnall]

Ow, my brain:

Standard cell manufacturing results in half as much silicon being wasted as is actually used. "I know less than half of you half as well as I should like and I like less than half of you half as well as you deserve." ~ Bilbo Baggins

Re:Cannonballs!

[FasterthanaWatch]

You and your metric system...

Finally, some solar tech with balls...

[jpellino]

... hopefully it'll have legs, too.

Re:Think there's going to be enough time?

[Colin Smith]

Yes. Clearly I'm new here...