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US 2015/0083213 A1Published application
Core-shell nickel alloy composite particle metallization layers for silicon solar cells
AssigneePLANT PV, Inc.
InventorsBrian E. Hardin, Stephen T. Connor, James Randy Groves, Craig H. Peters
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Abstract
Materials and Methods for fabrication of rear tabbing, front busbar, and fine grid line layers for silicon based photovoltaic cells are disclosed. Materials include conductive metallization pastes that contain core-shell nickel based particles.
Claims30
A solar cell comprising:
- a silicon substrate having a front surface and a back surface;
- a plurality of fine grid lines on the front surface of the silicon substrate;
- at least one front busbar layer on the front side of the silicon substrate, the front busbar layers in electrical contact with the plurality of fine grid lines;
- an aluminum layer on the back side of the silicon substrate;
- and
- at least one rear tabbing layer on the back side of the silicon substrate;
- wherein at least one of the plurality of fine grid lines, the front busbar layer, or the rear tabbing layer comprises:
- a condensed particle morphology that consists of core-shell nickel particles dispersed in a silver matrix, such that the weight ratio of silver to core-shell nickel particles is between 1:9 and 4:1;
- wherein the core-shell nickel particles comprise:
- a nickel core;
- and
- a first shell surrounding the core, the first shell consisting of a nickel alloy with 1-8 wt % boron.
9 more elements
A solar cell comprising:
- a silicon substrate having a front surface and a back surface;
- a plurality of fine grid lines on the front surface of the silicon substrate;
- at least one front busbar layer on the front surface of the silicon substrate, the front busbar layers in electrical contact with the plurality of fine grid lines;
- an aluminum layer on a back surface of the silicon substrate;
- and
- at least one rear tabbing layer on the back surface of the silicon substrate;
- wherein at least one of the plurality of fine grid lines, the front busbar, or the rear tabbing layer comprises:
- a condensed particle morphology that consists of core-shell nickel alloy particles dispersed in a silver matrix, such that the weight ratio of silver to core-shell nickel alloy particles is between 1:9 and 4:1.
- wherein the core-shell nickel alloy particles comprise:
- a nickel or nickel alloy core;
- and
- a first shell surrounding the core, the first shell made of a material different from the core, the first shell comprising one or more materials selected from the group consisting of tin (Sn), zinc (Zn), lead (Pb), nickel alloy, and combinations thereof.
9 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.