Solar

Advanced Materials & Components for Solar Applications

The global transition to renewable energy is accelerating, with solar power playing a central role in the shift toward sustainable solutions. At Testbourne, we support innovation in the solar and photovoltaic (PV) industry by supplying high-purity materials and precision instrumentation essential for high-efficiency solar energy systems.

Our products are used in various solar cell technologies, including:

CIGS (Copper Indium Gallium Selenide)
CdTe (Cadmium Telluride)
a-Si (Amorphous Silicon)
Crystalline silicon wafer-based cells

We also support thin film photovoltaics, solar thermal and concentrated solar power (CSP) systems. These technologies depend on materials that enable reflective, anti-reflective and energy-absorbing coatings - precisely what Testbourne provides.

High-Purity Materials for Solar Efficiency

Testbourne offers a wide range of rotatable and planar sputtering targets for solar manufacturers, engineered to support deposition processes in high-throughput environments. Our materials ensure:

Improved solar cell efficiency
Optimised energy conversion rates
Reliable performance in high-temperature and vacuum conditions

We supply:

Coating materials for advanced PV deposition
PVD materials for solar coating chambers
Materials for CIGS, CdTe, a-Si and crystalline PV production

Instrumentation for Process Control & Efficiency

Process control is vital in solar cell manufacturing. Testbourne offers Inficon QCMs (Quartz Crystal Microbalances) and Guardian controllers, ideal for real-time thin film monitoring and deposition rate control in CIGS and other PV production lines.

We also supply:

Ceramaseal® hermetic feedthroughs for power and signal transfer in high-vacuum solar coating systems
Vacuum components and sensor crystals to support consistent, scalable production

Frequently Asked Questions for Solar Materials

What materials are best for solar thin film deposition?

We supply sputtering targets and PVD materials optimised for CIGS, CdTe, and a-Si thin film solar cells, supporting efficient, scalable deposition.

Can Testbourne support both research and industrial solar production?

Yes, we serve both R&D labs and mass production facilities, offering flexible quantities and technical advice to suit your stage of development.

What instruments help control thin film deposition in solar cells?

Our Inficon QCMs and Guardian controllers offer precise monitoring of film thickness and deposition rates, critical for consistent solar cell performance.

How do hermetic feedthroughs improve solar coating equipment?

Ceramaseal® feedthroughs provide secure, leak-tight connections for power and instrumentation lines in vacuum coating chambers, improving system reliability.

Do you offer materials for both planar and rotatable sputtering systems?

Yes. We supply a full range of planar and rotatable targets for use in all major PV production systems.

Powering the Future with Testbourne

From pioneering thin-film solar research to supporting industrial PV production, Testbourne delivers the materials and instrumentation needed to improve efficiency, reliability and scalability in solar energy. Contact us today to discuss your project and explore how our solutions can support your clean energy goals.