San Marcos, Texas: Quantum Materials Corp (QMC) announced October 1 that it is scaling volume production of photoactive quantum dots for use in next-generation photovoltaic solar power technologies.
Quantum dots are nanocrystals made of semiconductor materials that are small enough to exhibit quantum mechanical properties. They have characteristics desirable for photovoltaics.
QMC says that, while offering numerous advantages for solar power generation, the high cost and difficulty of producing large quantities of quantum dots with which to develop thin film solar cells has until now kept them from commercial utilization and acceptance. The company is also seeking partners for pilot thin-film quantum dot solar cell factories with Quantum Materials’ automated quantum dot production system supplying the material necessary to support daily runs of continuous roll-to-roll thin film production.
The company goes on to argue that the environment for solar advances is reaching an investment capital ‘tipping point,’ as highlighted by the recent pledge by the Rockefellers, who made their vast fortune on oil, to divest a total of $50 billion from fossil fuel investments and focus on supporting alternative energy solutions. They have joined some 650 individuals and 180 institutions, including 50 new foundations, which hold over $50 billion in total assets, that have pledged to divest from supporting fossil fuels over five years.
“Cost-effective volume production of photoactive quantum dots will create the foundation for invigorating capital investment and adoption of solar energy technologies as thin-film photovoltaics drive down relative cost-per-watt ratios,” said Quantum Materials Founder and CEO Stephen Squires. “Without subsidies solar energy has not been an attractive investment for business and residential markets and as a result adoption in countries that have not aggressively subsidized solar, like the United States, has been stillborn since 2008. With our recent patent award and patent acquisitions we now have the IP protection underlying our high volume photoactive quantum dots production processes that will drive significant cost reductions for thin film solar cells and increase non-subsidized solar energy adoption.”
See also “UofT’s quantum dots to improve PV,” in the August 2014 issue of IPPSO FACTO.