Interesting article alert! 

Our sister publication Semiconductor International is reporting that at SEMICON Europa this week new efficiency records for thin-wafer silicon and germanium solar cells have been reported by Belgian R&D consortium IMEC. 

According to the article by SI Editor in Chief Pete Singer, IMEC realized an efficiency of 17.4 percent for its thin-wafer silicon solar cells by using its industrial passivated emitter and rear cells (i-PERC) process. By using the i-PERC process as a method to passivate the rear side and create local contact, efficiencies above 20 percent are definitely within reach, IMEC reported in the article.