Roll-to-Roll Vacuum Processing

Superior Throughput and Scalability

• Readily scaled on the flexible substrate by continuous roll processing method.
• Utilization of large-scale, high-rate, roll-to-roll sputter processing
• Low capital equipment cost
• Solar cell manufacturers employing R2R processes to build complex multi-layer photovoltaic devices

Improved Reproducibility

• Reliably reproducible on the flexible stainless foil surface
• Vacuum deposited layers allow lower operating temperatures and thermal budgets
• Stack-to-stack consistency: Vacuum deposition environments are superior for definitive process control

Very Low Materials Cost

• Thin layers (<1 micrometer)
• Flexible stainless steel foil is much less expensive as a substrate
• No direct waste products

In contrast, a conventional SOFC cell manufacturing process is multi-step and energy-intensive.  It includes the use of organic binders that generate toxic volatile organic compounds and requires expensive disposal system.