Automated Array Assembly Task, Phase I. Quarterly report No. 2

Technical Report · Thu Jul 01 04:00:00 EDT 1976

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/7357717· OSTI ID:7357717

Carbajal, B. G.

Work during this quarter consisted of preparing design-to-cost goals for each element of the solar cell module fabrication; testing process technologies and forecasted process capabilities against the design-to-goal goals; ranking competing process technologies where enough data is present; fabricating sample solar cells to test process feasibility; initiating device characterization and modeling efforts; and using the device characterization-modeling data to point the way toward improved solar cell characteristics. Design-to-cost concepts were used to model an idealized solar cell factory. In the area of junction formation, simultaneous N/sup +/-P/sup +/ diffusion from polymer dopant sources appears to be the best choice for low-cost fabrication. In the area of metallization, a clear choice cannot be made. Significant cost reduction could be made in the short-term by using continuous vacuum deposition techniques if a large enough market were available to warrant the use of high throughput machines. The lowest cost metallization option is screen printing of base metals but technical feasibility has not been demonstrated. Module substrates and encapsulation present a formidable cost barrier in solar cell module fabrication.

• Research Organization: Texas Instruments, Inc., Dallas (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: NAS-7-100-954405
• OSTI ID: 7357717
• Report Number(s): ERDA/JPL/954405-76/2
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

14 SOLAR ENERGY
140501* -- Solar Energy Conversion-- Photovoltaic Conversion
COST
DIRECT ENERGY CONVERTERS
FABRICATION
PHOTOELECTRIC CELLS
PHOTOVOLTAIC CELLS
PHOTOVOLTAIC POWER PLANTS
POWER PLANTS
SOLAR CELL ARRAYS
SOLAR CELLS
SOLAR POWER PLANTS