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Non-Contact Printed Aluminum Metallization of Si Photovoltaic Devices

Conference · · Conference Record of the IEEE Photovoltaic Specialists Conference

Alternative solution-based techniques such as aerosol jet printing offer the dual benefits of contactless pattern deposition and high material utilization. We have used aerosol jet printing to investigate non-contact printed Al metal ink as a replacement for screen printed Al back contacts on wafer Si solar cells. This particle-based ink can be prepared at high loadings of 60 weight % metal, which enables rapid deposition of 1 - 10 um thick lines. Al lines printed on Si wafers and heated between 550 and 800 degrees C form low resistance contacts suitable for current extraction. The effectiveness of these printed Al back contacts has further been demonstrated by incorporating them into a series of 21 cm2 crystalline Si solar cells that produced a champion power conversion efficiencyof 13%.

Research Organization:
National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), Golden, CO (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), Solar Energy Technologies Office (EE-4S)
DOE Contract Number:
AC36-08GO28308
OSTI ID:
1044456
Report Number(s):
NREL/CP-5200-54171
Journal Information:
Conference Record of the IEEE Photovoltaic Specialists Conference, Journal Name: Conference Record of the IEEE Photovoltaic Specialists Conference Vol. 2012; ISSN 0160-8371
Publisher:
IEEE
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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