Antek Inc is developing a cheaper process for making photovoltaic cells by eliminating complex and expensive steps in the way the solar cells are made. In a standard process, thin wafers of silicon and phosphorous are heated in large ovens and exposed to boron gas, which diffuses into the wafers, resulting in a photovoltaic cell that can create electricity when exposed to light. Antek's alternative is able to create the same sort of cells by passing the wafers under something like an ink jet printer and spritzing the wafers with a proprietary mixture of chemicals. Using this method instead of using the oven and gas could reduce production costs by up to twenty percent. Antek is also working on a fuel cell that uses microbes to create energy. In this program the firm is focusing on using glycerin, a waste product from biodiesel production, as fuel. Antek is attempting to increase the sensitivity to which cesium can be analyzed in human tissue through the use of a cluster ion gun in liquid dynamic secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS). The firm is also involved with research in bio-based fuel cell systems and using biodegradable polymers to absorb hydrocarbons from storm sewer systems. Antek has also developed a revolutionary low cost method of manufacturing high efficiency solar cells. The firms hetero-junction process combines traditional crystalline silicon wafers with thin-film, boosting efficiency and cutting manufacturing costs.
