The latest news and information on industries related to semiconductor manufacturing, including nanotechnology, MEMS, photovoltaics/solar cells, displays, and optoelectronics.
Touch Panel Displays Gain Reliability Kenji Tsuda, Asia Contributing Editor - 11/11/2008
Touch panel displays have skyrocketed in popularity following introduction of Apple’s iPhone and the Nintendo DS gaming system. At the FPD International 2008 show, F-Origin, Wacom and LG Electronics showed products with increased sensitivity and reliability. More
Wacker Expands Polysilicon Production Ahead of Schedule Staff - 11/20/2008
Probably welcome news to a solar industry in need of more supplies of high-purity polycrystalline silicon, Wacker Chemie is up and running with its latest production expansion.
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Photovoltaic raw materials prices to shrink in 2009, iSuppli says By Suzanne Deffree, Managing Editor, News - 11/14/2008
More than 60 companies have announced plans to produce polysilicon by 2009, up from just seven in 2007. On that, pricing for polysilicon used to create photovoltaic cells is expected to drop starting in 2009 because of imbalances in the solar supply chain, iSuppli reports.
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Applied Materials Sees Sharp Order Reductions, Plans Layoff of 1800 Workers David Lammers, News Editor - 11/12/2008
Applied Materials will lay off ~1800 employees as demand for equipment continues to drop. Although fiscal fourth quarter performance exceeded expectations, Applied saw a 30% reduction in orders during the quarter ending Oct. 26. CEO Mike Splinter said he is seeing “a rapid slowdown in many of our customers’ investment plans.”
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Research Brings Quantum Computing Closer Alexander E. Braun, Senior Editor - 11/10/2008
University of Michigan researchers used lasers to create an arbitrary initialized quantum state of solid-state qbits at rates of ~1 GHz, taking fundamental steps toward qbit programming. The researchers trapped electron spin in a “dark state” in which they can arbitrarily adjust the proportions of 0 and 1 represented by the qbit.
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Shinoda Plasma Creates Flexible Plasma Display Kenji Tsuda, Asia Contributing Editor - 11/06/2008
At the FPD International show in Yokohama, Japan, Shinoda Plasma Co. Ltd. demonstrated a large-format flexible plasma display panel measuring 1 × 3 m. The plasma display has a thickness of only 1 mm, and is designed for large-scale digital signage used at public venues such as museums and subways.
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Scaling PECVD for Large-Area Solar Cells Shuran Sheng, Yong Kee Chae, Liwei Li, Jeff Su and Xiesen Yang, Applied Materials, Santa Clara, Calif. - 11/01/2008
Thin-film solar modules based on amorphous (a-Si:H) and microcrystalline (µc-Si:H) silicon are emerging as leading solutions for low-cost, large-scale photovoltaic (PV) applications. Gigawatt-scale production of these modules requires large-area uniformity and high deposition rates of the absorber layers.
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Scaling PECVD for Large-Area Solar Cells Shuran Sheng, Yong Kee Chae, Liwei Li, Jeff Su and Xiesen Yang, Applied Materials, Santa Clara, Calif., 11/01/2008
Thin-film solar modules based on amorphous (a-Si:H) and microcrystalline (µc-Si:H) silicon are emerging as leading solutions for low-cost, large-scale photovoltaic (PV) applications. Gigawatt-scale production of these modules requires large-area uniformity and high deposition rates of the absorber layers....
Racing to Excellence in PV Manufacturing Bettina Weiss, Director of SEMI International Standards, 11/01/2008 The global photovoltaics (PV) manufacturing value chain is complex and diverse. Understanding the various factors — governments, markets, regulations, technologies, grid cost, etc. — as well as providing solutions that contribute to better value chain management and sustainability of the overall system are significant tasks that need to be addressed....
Semiconductor Industry Helps to Green Solar Sia Abbaszadeh, Edwards, Crawley, UK, 11/01/2008
Not only must the photovoltaics industry work to reach grid parity, but it must also maintain an environmentally sound manufacturing profile so as not to negate the benefits of solar's clean energy....
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Scaling PECVD for Large-Area Solar Cells
