# US 9,520,509 B2 · Sheet assembly with aluminum based electrodes > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,520,509 B2 - Document ID: US9520509B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/003,517 - Filed: 2012-03-12 - Published: 2014-06-19 - Granted: 2016-12-13 - Earliest claimed: 2011-03-11 - Assignees: Avery Dennison Retail Information Services LLC - Applicants: Kourosh Kian; Peikang Liu; Stephen Li - Inventors: Kourosh Kian; Peikang Liu; Stephen Li - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9520509B2 ## CPC - H10F 77/219: {Arrangements for electrodes of back-contact photovoltaic cells} - C23C 18/1651: {Two or more layers only obtained by electroless plating} - C23C 18/1653: {Two or more layers with at least one layer obtained by electroless plating and one layer obtained by electroplating} - C23C 18/54: Contact plating, i.e. electroless electrochemical plating - C25D 7/126: {for solar cells} - H10F 19/908: {for back-contact photovoltaic cells} - H10F 71/134: {Irradiation with electromagnetic or particle radiation} - H10P 14/6534: {by exposure to a liquid} - Y02E 10/50: Photovoltaic [PV] energy - H10F: INORGANIC SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES SENSITIVE TO INFRARED RADIATION, LIGHT, ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION OF SHORTER WAVELENGTH OR CORPUSCULAR RADIATION - C23C: COATING METALLIC MATERIAL; COATING MATERIAL WITH METALLIC MATERIAL; SURFACE TREATMENT OF METALLIC MATERIAL BY DIFFUSION INTO THE SURFACE, BY CHEMICAL CONVERSION OR SUBSTITUTION; COATING BY VACUUM EVAPORATION, BY SPUTTERING, BY ION IMPLANTATION OR BY CHEMICAL VAPOUR DEPOSITION, IN GENERAL (making metal-coated products by extrusion B21C23/22; covering with metal by connecting pre-existing layers to articles, see the relevant places, e.g. B21D39/00, B23K; metallising of glass C03C; metallising mortars, concrete, artificial stone, ceramics or natural stone C04B41/00; enamelling of, or applying a vitreous layer to, metals C23D; treating metal surfaces or coating of metals by electrolysis or electrophoresis C25D; single-crystal film growth C30B; by metallising textiles D06M11/83; decorating textiles by locally metallising D06Q1/04) - C25D: PROCESSES FOR THE ELECTROLYTIC OR ELECTROPHORETIC PRODUCTION OF COATINGS; ELECTROFORMING; APPARATUS THEREFOR - H10P: GENERIC PROCESSES OR APPARATUS FOR THE MANUFACTURE OR TREATMENT OF DEVICES COVERED BY CLASS H10 - Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION ## Abstract Various methods for preparing and/or processing electrically conductive aluminum members such as used in electronic circuits and components are described. Also described are various sheet assemblies using patterned aluminum conductive elements as components of electric circuitry. The sheet assemblies can be used as backsheets for back contact photovoltaic cells or as antennas for RFID tags. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method of forming an oxidation resistant aluminum based electrode on an aluminum foil laminate for a photovoltaic back contact c-Si cell, the method comprising: providing an aluminum foil laminate including an aluminum foil having a layer of oxidation on the aluminum foil; patterning the aluminum foil of the aluminum foil laminate; providing an oxygen-free atmosphere along an outer surface of the aluminum foil; removing at least a portion of the oxidation from a portion of the aluminum foil to thereby form a region of freshly exposed aluminum; and depositing at least one layer of an electrically conductive material on the region of freshly exposed aluminum to thereby form the oxidation resistant aluminum based electrode. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 further comprising: after depositing the layer of the electrically conductive material, depositing a layer of silver on the electrically conductive material. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2 wherein depositing of the layer of silver is performed by contacting a silver bath formulation with the electrically conductive material. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2 wherein the depositing of the layer of silver is performed by: providing a composition including particles of silver dispersed in a carrier; and printing the composition on the electrically conductive material. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The method of claim 4 wherein the particles of silver are nanoparticles. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein the removing of at least a portion of the oxidation is performed by applying an etchant to the oxidation. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The method of claim 6 wherein the etchant is a liquid acidic etchant. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The method of claim 7 wherein the etchant includes at least one acid selected from a group consisting of sulfuric acid, nitric acid and phosphoric acid. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein the removing of at least a portion of the oxidation is performed by laser ablation. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein the oxygen-free atmosphere includes at least one inert gas selected from a group consisting of nitrogen, helium, neon, argon, and combinations thereof. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein the depositing of the at least one layer of an electrically conductive material is performed by contacting a zincate solution with the freshly exposed aluminum to thereby form a layer of zinc on the aluminum, and then depositing a layer of copper or nickel on the layer of zinc. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein the depositing of the at least one layer of an electrically conductive material is performed by contacting a copper bath formulation with the freshly exposed aluminum to thereby form a layer of copper on the aluminum. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12 wherein the copper bath formulation comprises cupric sulfate and sulfuric acid. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein the depositing of the layer of an electrically conductive material is performed by contacting a nickel bath formulation with the freshly exposed aluminum to thereby form a layer of nickel on the aluminum. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14 wherein the nickel bath formulation comprises nickel sulfate, nickel chloride, and boric acid. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein the depositing of the at least one layer of an electrically conductive material is performed by: providing a composition including particles of the electrically conductive material dispersed in a carrier; and printing the composition on the freshly exposed aluminum. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16 wherein the electrically conductive material includes copper particles. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16 wherein the electrically conductive material includes nickel particles. ### Claim 19 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16 wherein the particles are nanoparticles. ### Claim 20 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the electrically conductive material is copper, and further comprising: after depositing the layer of the electrically conductive material, depositing a layer of organic solderability preservative (OSP) on the electrically conductive material. ### Claim 21 (depends on 1) The oxidation resistant aluminum based electrode on an aluminum foil laminate as formed by the methods of claim 1.