Double screen printed metallization of crystalline silicon solar cells as low as 30μm metal line width for mass production

• Published in: Solar energy materials and solar cells Vol. 100; pp. 204 - 208
• Main Authors: Ju, Minkyu, Lee, Youn-Jung, Lee, Jonghwan, Kim, Bonggi, Ryu, Kyungyul, Choi, Kyuho, Song, Kyuwan, Lee, Kyungsoo, Han, Changsoon, Jo, Youngmi, Yi, Junsin
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier B.V 01.05.2012; Elsevier
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Direct energy conversion and energy accumulation; Double printing; Electrical engineering. Electrical power engineering; Electrical power engineering; Energy; Exact sciences and technology; Fine line screen printing; High efficiency; Mass production; Natural energy; Photoelectric conversion; Photovoltaic conversion; Solar cell; Solar cells. Photoelectrochemical cells; Solar energy; Solar cell; Double printing; Mass production; Fine line screen printing; High efficiency; Performance evaluation; Silicon solar cells; Conversion rate; Metallizing; Shadow; Serigraphy; Thickness; Crystalline material; Line width; Series resistance; Cost lowering
• ISSN: 0927-0248; 1879-3398
• DOI: 10.1016/j.solmat.2012.01.018

One of the main objectives of the current single c-Si photovoltaic research is to enhance solar cell efficiency with the low cost approach. A simple way to improve the solar cell efficiency is to enhance the absorption of light as much as possible. In this study, we reduced the finger width pattern from 80μm to 30μm and then double printed to minimize shadow loss without any increase in series resistance. The single screen printing of 80μm finger width resulted in efficiency of 17.66%, whereas 30μm finger width resulted in efficiency of 15.83%, which is due to a decrease in FF. An 18.06% efficient solar cell with Jsc of 37.31mA/cm2, Voc of 627.3mV and FF of 77.2% is obtained using the double screen printing pattern of 30μm wide fingers. The increase in finger thickness resulted in increase in FF and hence efficiency. This novel method can be applied for mass production due to the simple double screen printing process. ► We carried out fine finger line by screen printing for high efficiency mass production. ► In the single printing method, fill factor is decreased. ► We found that the series resistance is dependent on finger's line resistance by simulation. ► We solved the problem by the double screen printing method. ► We could apply the fine finger line printing method to mass production.