Vapor deposition: leading companies?
…1 millionth of an atmosphere, to deposit nm-μm thick layers of ultra-pure materials onto semiconductor and solar substrates, to make PV silicon, solar modules, computer chips, AI chips, LEDs, plus…
Semiconductor physics: pièce de resistance?
Semiconductors underpin solar panels, electric vehicles and electronics. Hence this 20-page note aims to explain semiconductor physics from first principles: their conductivity and resistance, their use in devices, plus implications…
Electromagnetic energy: Planck, Shockley-Queisser, power beaming?
…a higher energy state, from which electricity can be drawn out of a solar cell. For silicon, the bandgap is 1.1 eV. https://thundersaidenergy.com/2023/10/19/semiconductor-physics-piece-de-resistance/ What provides the energy is photons in…
Industrial materials: thermodynamic efficiency?
…chains that yield glass, solar panels and semiconductors. For the latter two applications, silica might be reduced into silicon ‘metal’ in an electric arc furnace. And overall, we think this…
Silicon carbide: faster switching?
Silicon carbide power electronics will jolt the energy transition forwards, displacing silicon, and improving the efficiency of most new energies by 1-10 pp. Hence we wonder if this disruptor will…
Electrical conductivity: energy transition materials?
…Electrical grade steel is used in electric motors, transformers and generators, in order to create electro-magnetic fields. Finally, PV silicon is a semiconductor, around 10,000 more resistive than conductive metals,…
Hillcrest: ZVS inverter breakthrough?
…up to 13% higher range than today’s inverters, especially for use in EV powertrains; but also in wind, solar, batteries and fast-chargers. It is based on SiC semiconductors. This Hillcrest…
Global polysilicon production capacity?
Polysilicon is a highly pure, crystalline silicon material, used predominantly for photovoltaic solar, and also for ‘chips’ in the electronics industry. Global polysilicon capacity is estimated to reach 1.65MTpa in…
DC-DC power converters: efficiency calculations?
…different input variables. We think value will accrue to leading semiconductor and power-electronics companies, that can improve the efficiency of electrification technologies. Recent examples include Silicon Carbide (SiC) semiconductor, Zero-Voltage…
Commodity prices: metals, materials and chemicals?
…Silica prices surpassed $70/ton, silicon metal prices reached $4,000/ton and polysilicon prices surpassed $30/kg (charts below). Silica price, silicon price and polysilicon price in $ per ton The full database…