Abstract
Nanocrystalline silicon materials have long been seen as having significant
advantages in both the electronics and solar industry because of their
relatively high electron mobility, absorption qualities and stability as well
as the ease with which they can be deposited. These materials seem to be well
positioned to provide some short-term performance improvements that could
easily translate into new business revenues. For example, they may enable the
currently low-efficiency thin-film silicon technology to strike back with
higher performance. Nanocrystalline silicon also offers an easily implemented
way to improve performance and scalability of computer memories without
derailing the silicon-based status quo.
Beyond that lies a promise of other opportunities, not just for
nanocrystalline silicon but also for silicon nanomaterials and nanostructures,
especially quantum dots. In addition to solar and memory applications, other
areas in which these advanced materials have potential include thin-film
transistors, lighting, and computing.
NanoMarkets was one of the first firms to recognize and analyze the potential
for nanoscale/nanoengineered silicon and we published a report on this topic
in 2007. As result we have considerable understanding of what makes this
business tick. This new report will analyze and quantify the "nanosilicon"
market in 2009 and beyond, showing how it is doing in the current difficult
economic situation and pointing to where the use of silicon nanomaterials and
structures can still produce profits. This report covers the whole range of
nanosilicon applications that are likely to yield significant market
opportunities in the next eight years. As with all NanoMarkets reports it
includes an eight-year forecast of revenues from silicon nanomaterials and
nanostructures and a discussion of the product/market strategies of the
leading firms active in this space.
Methodology of this Report
The information for this report is derived from a variety of sources, but
principally comes from primary sources, including NanoMarkets' ongoing
interview program of technologists, business development managers, and
academics involved with emerging electronics of all kinds, including thin-film
and printable electronics. We also drew on an extensive search of the
technical literature, relevant company Web sites, trade journals, government
resources, and various collateral items from trade shows and conferences. Some
of the data for this report comes from other NanoMarkets reports, most notably
“Materials for Thin-Film Silicon Photovoltaics,” and the 2007
version of this report, “Opportunities for Nanocrystalline Silicon and
Silicon Inks in Electronics.” Where information comes from an earlier
report, it has been reinvestigated, reanalyzed, and reconsidered in light of
current developments, and updated accordingly.
The forecast approach taken in this report is explained in more detail in
Chapter Four, but the basic approach taken here is to look at the underlying
needs and markets, as well as the technologies and types of products available
or under development, to assess suitability and likely volume over the next
eight years. The stated plans of the key firms are of course of special
interest, although NanoMarkets critically considers these claims in light of
all available data.
Table of Contents
Executive Summary
- E.1 Opportunities for Silicon Nanomaterials and Nanostructures
- E.1.1 Major Changes from NanoMarkets' 2007 Report
- E.1.2 Photovoltaics
- E.1.3 Memories
- E.1.4 TFTs
- E.1.5 Lighting
- E.1.6 Applications and Opportunities for Silicon Quantum Dots and Other
Nanostructures
- E.2 Manufacturing and Materials Issues and Opportunities
- E.2.1 Opportunities for Equipment Manufacturers
- E.2.2 Opportunities for the Traditional Silicon Materials Industry
- E.2.3 Nanocrystalline Silicon Inks
- E.3 Marketing Nanosilicon as a "Green" Material
- E.4 Firms to Watch in this Space
- E.5 Summary of Eight-Year Forecasts of Nanocrystalline Silicon
Markets
Chapter One: Introduction
- 1.1 Background to this Report
- 1.1.1 Evolution of Silicon Nanomaterials and Nanostructures
- 1.1.2 Applications for Nanosilicon
- 1.2 Objectives and Scope of this Report
- 1.3 Methodology of this Report
- 1.4 Plan of this Report
Chapter Two: Nanosilicon Materials and Manufacturing
- 2.1 Nanosilicon Materials and Structures
- 2.1.1 Nanocrystalline Silicon
- 2.1.2 Other Silicon Nanomaterials
- 2.1.3 Silicon Nanostructures: Rods, Wires, and Quantum Dots
- 2.2 Nanosilicon Manufacturing Trends
- 2.2.1 Evolution of Vapor Deposition Methods
- 2.2.2 Evolution of Plasma Methods
- 2.2.3 A Role for Printing and Solution Processing?
- 2.2.4 Other Manufacturing Methods
- 2.3 Nanosilicon and the Future of Device Scaling
- 2.4 Other Unique Technical Aspects of Nanosilicon Use
- 2.5 Present and Future Environmental, Health, and Safety Concerns
with Nanosilicon
- 2.6 Key Points Made in this Chapter
Chapter Three: Nanosilicon Applications and Markets
- 3.1 Introduction: The Many Applications for Nanosilicon
- 3.1.1 Nanosilicon in the Current Economy
- 3.2 Nanosilicon Photovoltaics
- 3.2.1 Does the World Need Another PV Technology?
- 3.2.2 Nanosilicon PV Vs. Other Thin-Film PV Technologies
- 3.2.3 Silicon Nanostructures and Next-Generation PV
- 3.2.4 Key Players and Research Groups Involved with Nanosilicon PV
- 3.3 Nanosilicon Memories
- 3.3.1 The Long Search for a New RAM Technology
- 3.3.2 Nanocrystalline Silicon Memories Vs. Other Nanomemories
- 3.3.3 Silicon Quantum Dots and Other Nanostructures in Memory R&D
- 3.3.4 Key Players and Research Groups in Nanosilicon Memories
- 3.4 Nanosilicon and Thin-Film Transistors: Displays and RFID
Applications
- 3.4.1 Nanosilicon TFTs Vs. Conventional TFTs vs. OTFTs
- 3.4.2 Nanosilicon and Printed TFTs
- 3.4.3 Silicon Nanostructures in Next-Generation Transistor Research
- 3.4.4 Key Players and Research Groups in Nanosilicon TFTs
- 3.5 Nanosilicon Lighting
- 3.5.1 Is There Room for Another Solid-State Lighting Technology?
- 3.5.2 How Nanosilicon Can Compete in the Solid-State Lighting Market:
Printed Lighting, Niche Markets, Etc.
- 3.6 Other Applications for Silicon Quantum Dots and Nanostructures
- 3.7 Key Points Made in this Chapter
Chapter Four: Eight-Year Forecasts of Nanosilicon Markets
- 4.1 Forecasting Methodology
- 4.1.1 Data Sources
- 4.1.2 Scope of Forecast
- 4.1.3 Alternative Scenarios and Other Factors Taken Into Consideration
- 4.1.4 Some Notes on Pricing
- 4.2 Forecasts of Nanosilicon Markets by Application and Product Type
- 4.2.1 Photovoltaics
- 4.2.2 Computer Memories
- 4.2.3 Transistors
- 4.2.4 Lighting and Other Applications
- 4.3 Forecasts of Nanosilicon Markets by Type of
Material/Nanostructure
- 4.4 Forecasts of Nanosilicon Markets by Manufacturing Type
- Acronyms and Abbreviations Used in this Report
List of Exhibits
- Exhibit E-1: Nanocrystalline Silicon Product Revenues ($ Millions)
- Exhibit 4-1: Nanocrystalline Silicon in Photovoltaic Applications
- Exhibit 4-2: Nanocrystalline Silicon in Memory Applications
- Exhibit 4-3: Nanocrystalline Silicon in Display Backplane Applications
- Exhibit 4-4: Nanocrystalline Silicon in RFID Applications
- Exhibit 4-5: Nanocrystalline Silicon in Other Applications
- Exhibit 4-6: Nanocrystalline Silicon Products by Type of
Material/Nanostructure, Application Level ($ Millions)
- Exhibit 4-7: Nanocrystalline Silicon Products by Deposition Process,
Application Level ($ Millions)
