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Sunovia Energy Technologies Inc of Sarasota, FL, USA has established a new infrared materials and systems integration division for cadmium telluride (CdTe) and mercury cadmium telluride (HgCdTe) infrared (IR) imaging and sensor products.

The firm now has three operating divisions:

• next-generation solar and infrared sensor materials and systems;
• next-generation II-VI-based LEDs; and
• solid-state lighting engines and fixtures.

It adds that its solar cell and infrared technologies division is leveraging the inherent synergies between infrared and solar by capitalizing on the existing market demand for highly efficient cadmium telluride (CdTe) and mercury cadmium telluride (HgCdTe)-based infrared materials. By applying expertise in the manufacturing processes for these materials, Sunovia believes it can accelerate the deployment of infrared technologies and advance its next-generation solar cell program simultaneously.

Sunovia has expertise in CdTe on silicon (Si), an infrared sensor material for military and commercial markets. Initially, the firm will deliver high-efficiency CdTe-based materials to the infrared sensor market while working to advance CdTe-based solar cell technology for the space and military markets. It will then target the commercial, utility and residential markets as manufacturing costs are reduced.

The latest development follows Sunovia in February acquiring a 10% stake in its collaborative partner EPIR Technologies Inc (EPIR) of Bolingbrook, IL, USA, which pioneered the development of II-VI IR materials for the US military and provides research support for the defense industry in HgCdTe IR imaging technology. EPIR was founded in 1998 by its president, Dr Siva Sivananthan, former director of the Microphysics Laboratory (MPL) of the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC).

“After thorough discussions with Dr Siva Sivananthan, it became clear that a significant infrared market exists for our HgCdTe and CdTe infrared materials, and that due to the inherent similarities between infrared and solar materials, we can simultaneously develop both materials without compromising our focus and efforts on the solar front,” says Sunovia’s chairman and CEO Carl Smith.

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Search: Solar cells II-VI MCT HgCdTe CdTe IR

Visit: www.sunoviaenergy.com