Thick Film Conductor Formulations Comprising Silver And Nickel Or Silver And Nickel Alloys And Solar Cells Made Therefrom
AssigneeFerro Corporation
InventorsUmesh Kumar, Virginia L. Whitford, Srinivasan Sridharan, Aziz S. Shaikh
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Abstract
Formulations and methods of making solar cells and solar cell contacts are disclosed. In general, the invention presents a solar cell contact made from a mixture wherein the mixture comprises a metal portion, which, prior to firing, comprises nickel and silver.
Claims27
A thick film paste comprising a glass portion and a conductive metal portion, said conductive metal portion comprising:
- a. from about 10 to about 99 wt % silver and
- b. from about 1 to about 90 wt % of a nickel alloy selected from the group consisting of a nickel-aluminum alloy, a nickel-chromium alloy, and a nickel-aluminum-chromium alloy, and combinations thereof.
A thick film paste comprising:
- a glass portion and a conductive metal portion, said conductive metal portion comprising:
- a. from about 10 to about 99 wt % silver and
- b. from about 1 to about 90 wt % of a nickel alloy selected from the group consisting of a nickel-aluminum alloy, a nickel-chromium alloy, and a nickel-aluminum-chromium alloy, and combinations thereof, said glass portion comprising a partially crystallizing glass.
A thick film paste comprising:
- a. a glass portion including frit particles having a particle size no greater than about 2 microns, the glass portion including at least one partially crystallizing glass fit, and
- b. a conductive metal portion comprising
- i. from about from about 10 to about 99 wt % silver and
- ii. from about 0.05 to about 90 wt % of a nickel alloy selected from the group consisting of a nickel-aluminum alloy, a nickel-chromium alloy, and a nickel-aluminum-chromium alloy, and combinations thereof.
A solar cell including a front contact, said front contact formed by firing a paste composition comprising a glass portion and a conductive metal portion, said conductive metal portion comprising silver and at least about 1 wt % nickel.
A process for making a solar cell contact, comprising
- a. applying a paste to a silicon wafer, wherein the paste comprises
- i. a glass portion and
- ii. a conductive metal portion, said conductive metal portion comprising:
- 1. from about 10 to about 99 wt % silver and
- 2. from about 1 to about 90 wt % of a nickel alloy selected from the group consisting of a nickel-aluminum alloy, a nickel-chromium alloy, and a nickel-aluminum-chromium alloy, and combinations thereof, and
- b. firing the silicon wafer at a time and temperature sufficient to sinter the metal portion and fuse the glass portion.
A process for making a solar cell contact, comprising
- a. applying a paste to a silicon wafer, wherein the paste comprises
- i. a glass portion and
- ii. a conductive metal portion, said conductive metal portion comprising
- 1. silver and
- 2. at least about 1 wt % nickel,
- b. firing the silicon wafer at a time and temperature sufficient to sinter the metal portion and fuse the glass portion.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.