Hague Corp. Subsidiary Solterra Renewable Technologies Signs Memorandum Of Understanding With Access2Flow To Develop Revolutionary, Cost-Effective Mass Production Of Quantum Dots
Hague Corp.'s (OTC Bulletin Board: HGUE), wholly owned subsidiary Solterra Renewable Technologies, Inc., has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with The Netherlands-based Access2Flow Holdings BV to develop a low-cost continuous process for mass producing quantum dots that will revolutionize the economics of quantum dot and solar cell production.
Under the terms of the MOU, Access2Flow, a joint venture of FutureChemistry Holding BV and Flowid BV, will adapt its highly regarded, proven chemical flow technology to create a machine that will produce quantum dots in multi-kilogram quantities per day versus current technology that only produces grams per day.
CEO Stephen Squires of Solterra Technologies said, "Bringing these two disruptive technologies together changes the world of quantum dot production and puts Solterra in the lead. It enables Solterra to escalate present production from mere grams per day to a process that is capable of producing quantum dots 24 hours per day, 7 days a week."
Squires said that Access2Flow has determined that Solterra's quantum dot synthesis technology is uniquely suited for this transition from batch processing to a continuous flow process. Access2Flow's pioneering work in continuous flow chemistry is in the forefront of the "lab to factory" concept, process optimization and tight quality control that is required for implementation of commercial-scale production of quantum dots.
Solterra will own all intellectual property resulting from the optimization efforts, in line with Solterra's long-term business objective to broaden its technology offerings in quantum dot-based products and advanced materials, he added.
A key barrier in commercial development of quantum dot technologies has been price. Quantum dots can cost from $3,000 to $10,000 per gram, restricting their use to highly specialized applications, according to Nature Magazine June 2009 "Quantum Dots Go Large."
Squires also noted that low-cost materials and this advanced continuous flow chemistry provide a path to high quality affordable quantum dots to enable rapid commercialization of solar cells, flexible displays, flash memory devices and LED lighting.
According to BCC Research, the global market for quantum dot (QD) technology is expected to increase at a compound annual rate of nearly 91 percent over the next five years, and be worth $721.1 million in 2013.
Squires said that Solterra is planning to leapfrog solar cell production capacity that remains fairly limited and expensive, by implementation of non silicon based high-throughput printing techniques for its quantum dot solar cells to eventually exceed gigawatt-scale yearly production.
He explained that availability of raw material input for competing silicon-based solar cells has been an issue in recent years, and the amount of silicon wafers necessary for even 100 megawatts is quite substantial.
To put everything in perspective, Squires explained, "When running 24/7, our projections show that the continuous quantum dot synthesis will not only supply our needs for hundreds, if not thousands, of megawatts in solar cell production, but will also provide the capacity to expand on our plans to bring affordable quantum dots to market for non-solar uses."
He continued, "Quantum dots are showing incredible potential in so many different and exciting product applications. Yet, due to production limitations, prices have been high, and yearly consumption is easily measured in kilograms. Just like our plans for dramatic increases in solar cell production, we believe that this breakthrough with Access2Flow will help us to attain daily and weekly sales amounts that used to take an entire year to achieve."
About Hague Corp./Solterra Renewable Technologies, Inc.
Solterra is singularly positioned to lead the development of truly sustainable and cost-effective solar technology as the first company to introduce a new dimension of cost reduction by replacing silicon wafer-based solar cells with low-cost, highly efficient Quantum Dot-based solar cells.
Safe Harbor statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995
The statements in this release relating to completion of the restructuring and financing of the companies are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Some or all of the results anticipated by these forward-looking statements may not occur. Factors that could cause or contribute to such differences include, but are not limited to, contractual difficulties, which may arise, the failure to obtain necessary approvals, the future market price of Hague common stock and/or the ability to obtain the necessary financing.
Source: PR Newswire