Laser-assisted solar cell metallization processing. Quarterly report, September 13-December 12, 1983

Technical Report · Mon Jan 16 04:00:00 EST 1984

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/5317403· OSTI ID:5317403

Dutta, S.

The Westinghouse Electric Corporation has undertaken to investigate, develop, and characterize laser-assisted processing techniques utilized to produce the fine line, thin metal grid structures that are required to fabricate high-efficiency solar cells. Two basic techniques for metal deposition will be investigated, as follows: (1) photochemical decomposition of liquid or gas phase organometallic compounds utilizing either a focused, CW ultraviolet laser (System 1) or a mask and ultraviolet flood illumination, such as that provided by a repetitively pulsed, defocused excimer laser (System 2), for pattern definition, and (2) thermal deposition of metals from organometallic solutions or vapors utilizing a focused, CW laser beam as a local heat source to draw the metallization pattern. The purpose of this contract is to investigate the various existing laser-assisted film deposition techniques in order to develop a new, cost-effective technology for solar cell metallization. The tasks that will be performed in the conduct of these investigations are detailed. In the first three months of this contract, a comprehensive literature search has been carried out on the various state-of-the-art laser-assisted techniques for metal deposition, including laser chemical vapor deposition and laser photolysis of organometallics, as well as laser-enhanced electroplating. A compact system for the experiments involving laser-assisted photolysis of gas-phase compounds has been designed and constructed. Initial experiments on laser-enhanced electro-plating have yielded very promising results, with linewidths as fine as 25 ..mu..m and plating speeds as high as 12 ..mu..m/sec being achieved.

• Research Organization: Jet Propulsion Lab., Pasadena, CA (USA); Westinghouse Electric Corp., Pittsburgh, PA (USA). Research and Development Center
• DOE Contract Number: NAS-7-100-956615
• OSTI ID: 5317403
• Report Number(s): DOE/JPL/956615-84-1; ON: DE84009178
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

14 SOLAR ENERGY
140501* -- Solar Energy Conversion-- Photovoltaic Conversion
CHEMICAL COATING
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
CHEMICAL VAPOR DEPOSITION
CONSTRUCTION
DECOMPOSITION
DEPOSITION
DESIGN
DIRECT ENERGY CONVERTERS
ELECTRIC CONTACTS
ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT
ELECTRODEPOSITION
ELECTROLYSIS
ELECTROPLATING
EQUIPMENT
LASER BEAM MACHINING
LYSIS
MACHINING
PHOTOCHEMICAL REACTIONS
PHOTOELECTRIC CELLS
PHOTOLYSIS
PHOTOVOLTAIC CELLS
PLATING
PYROLYSIS
SOLAR CELLS
SOLAR EQUIPMENT
SURFACE COATING
THERMOCHEMICAL PROCESSES