Applied NanoFilms LLC, spun-out of research conducted at South Dakota State University and also doing business as DSST LLC, is a high tech R&D company focused on using nanotechnology to create more efficient solar cell technology in films and surface coatings for display, solar, and optical applications– an important step in lowering the cost of solar energy. As it grows more efficient and less expensive, solar energy will become more competitive with other energy sources, and will be adopted by more people. The firm developed a nano-particle based coating material for back reflectors using highly reflective, light scattering nano-particle thin films to replace high-vacuum processing techniques. Conventional back reflectors consist of a sputtered metal film and require frequent downtime due to maintenance, cleaning, and replacing of the targets. Sputtered metal back reflectors can also have unfavorable effects on the solar cell device, as silver back reflectors do not adhere well to substrates used in solar cell manufacturing and readily oxidizes, reducing its reflectivity. Sputtered aluminum back reflectors are instead used in the thin film solar industry, but as aluminum absorbs light in a crucial portion of the sunlight spectrum, there are only moderate performance gains.
