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

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

Details needed.

[JavaManJim]

Missing from the story are important and obvious details.

1. Electrical output efficiency compared to a correctly aimed flat solar panel.

2. How are tiny silicon balls connected to produce electricity?

Any other questions, please chip in.

Thanks, Jim