Array automated assembly task for the Low-Cost Silicon Solar Array Project, Phase 2. Sixth quarterly report

Technical Report · Tue Apr 01 04:00:00 EST 1980

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/5579272· OSTI ID:5579272

Petersen, R C

This program is concerned with nickel/solder metallization of silicon solar cells. Work in this second quarter of the program extension comprised portions of four experimental tasks. The task to study nickel plating on silicon oxide films has led to the finding that the plating solution dissolves oxide before depositing nickel. The electron microprobe study of nickel penetration of silicon has shown that sintering can be conducted for long times at 300/sup 0/C but that problems may arise above this temperature, even though there is no significant penetration of nickel into silicon below about 450/sup 0/C. Measurements on cells fabricated using plating times in the four to fourteen minute range indicate no degradation of cell properties as a result of contact with the plating solution in this time range, but do show evidence of poor contact quality if the nickel plate is either too thick or too thin. The task to assess the Motorola plating process is in its early stages, but it is evident that the process is a very complex and time consuming one.

• Research Organization: Solarex Corp., Rockville, MD (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: NAS-7-100-954854
• OSTI ID: 5579272
• Report Number(s): DOE/JPL/954854-80/6
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

14 SOLAR ENERGY
140501* -- Solar Energy Conversion-- Photovoltaic Conversion
AUTOMATION
CHALCOGENIDES
CHEMICAL ANALYSIS
CLEANING
DEPOSITION
DIRECT ENERGY CONVERTERS
ELECTRIC CONTACTS
ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT
ELECTRON MICROPROBE ANALYSIS
ELEMENTS
EQUIPMENT
FABRICATION
HEAT TREATMENTS
JOINING
METALS
MICROANALYSIS
NICKEL
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PALLADIUM
PHOTOELECTRIC CELLS
PHOTOVOLTAIC CELLS
PLATING
PLATINUM METALS
SILICON COMPOUNDS
SILICON OXIDES
SILICON SOLAR CELLS
SINTERING
SOLAR CELL ARRAYS
SOLAR CELLS
SOLAR EQUIPMENT
SOLDERING
SURFACE CLEANING
SURFACE COATING
SURFACE FINISHING
TRANSITION ELEMENTS
WELDING