IIT Bombay, Applied Materials Inc to develop solar energy

Indian Institute of Technology Bombay (IITB) and Applied Materials, Inc (AMAT) today announced that they will broaden the scope of their ongoing research collaboration to develop new energy-related initiatives.

As part of this collaboration, Applied Materials, world's largest supplier of equipment to the semiconductor and photovoltaic industries, will donate three process chambers to IIT Bombay, a leader in education and research, for depositing thin films on solar cells using physical vapor deposition (PVD) and chemical vapor deposition (CVD) technologies, Randhir Thakur, Executive Vice-President and General Manager of Applied's Silicon Systems Business Group told a joint press conference in Mumbai today.

Applied Materials will also work with IIT Bombay research teams to set up a wet chemistry laboratory for developing new materials. These materials will be used for a variety of renewable energy-focused applications, including the fabrication of next-generation solar cells, he said.

As a symbolic representation of its commitment to clean technology and a sustainable future, Applied Materials will also donate a solar panel system to IIT Bombay.

The panels will be connected to energy-efficient LEDs that will light the University's main avenue of IIT campus at Powai.

Solar cells are used to convert sunlight directly into electricity. Arrays of these cells hold significant promise for a country like India, which is blessed with many sunny days.