IIT Bombay, India’s highest rated university and a leader in education and research, and Applied Materials, Inc., the world’s largest supplier of equipment to the semiconductor, flat panel display and solar photovoltaic industries, announced today they will broaden the scope of their ongoing research collaboration to develop new energy-related initiatives.
As part of this collaboration, Applied Materials will donate three process chambers to IIT Bombay for depositing thin films on solar cells using physical vapor deposition (PVD) and chemical vapor deposition (CVD) technologies. 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.
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.
Professor Devang Khakhar, Director, IIT Bombay said, “Research in sustainable energy solutions represents the future. This initiative to develop state-of-the-art solar cells is a small, yet important, step forward towards the vision of building a solar India. Interactions with global Industry leaders like Applied Materials have been extremely fruitful for the students and faculty and it is heartening to see the collaboration between IIT Bombay and Applied Materials expanded even further. These new donations to the Institute will enhance our existing research to important and socially relevant high-technology areas.”
IIT Bombay was specifically mentioned in the Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission as a location for the National Centre for Photovoltaic Research & Education. This honor recognizes IIT Bombay’s contributions over the years in establishing collaborative relationships and initiatives with industry. This new alliance with Applied Materials extends the Institute’s mission of setting up this National Centre.
Elaborating on this occasion, Dr. Randhir Thakur, Executive Vice President and General Manager of Applied’s Silicon Systems Business Group, said, “Applied Materials is dedicated to working with leading universities and institutions such as IIT Bombay to develop the innovations that will improve people’s lives. We are excited to expand our work with IIT Bombay to the area of solar energy and to serve as a catalyst in advancing India’s renewable energy capabilities.”
The Applied Materials Nanomanufacturing Laboratory was created at IIT Bombay in 2007 with Applied’s donation of several semiconductor processing systems. The success of this research collaboration led Applied Materials to broaden the scope of its engagement with IIT Bombay with a new investment focusing on renewable energy.
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. India’s Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission (JNNSM) launched by the Prime Minister in January 2010 emphasizes the need for renewable solar energy for India, and targets a 20,000MW of solar power generation by the year 2022.
