Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-xbtfd Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-10T18:16:27.023Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Direct-Write Printing of Silver Metallizations on Silicon Solar Cells

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 February 2011

C. J. Curtis
Affiliation:
National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Golden, CO 80401
T. Rivkin
Affiliation:
National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Golden, CO 80401
A. Miedaner
Affiliation:
National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Golden, CO 80401
J. Alleman
Affiliation:
National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Golden, CO 80401
J. Perkins
Affiliation:
National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Golden, CO 80401
L. Smith
Affiliation:
National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Golden, CO 80401
D. S. Ginley
Affiliation:
National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Golden, CO 80401
Get access

Abstract

Direct-write technologies offer the potential for low-cost materials-efficient deposition of contact metallizations for photovoltaics. We report on the inkjet printing of metal organic decomposition (MOD) inks with and without nanoparticle additions. Near-bulk conductivity of printed and sprayed metal films has been achieved for Ag and Ag nanocomposites. Good adhesion and ohmic contacts with a measured contact resistance of 400μΩ•cm2 have been observed between the sprayed silver films and a heavily doped n-type layer of Si. Silver deposited using the MOD ink burns through the Si3N4 antireflection coating when annealed at 850°C to form an ohmic contact to the n-Si underneath. An active solar cell device was fabricated using a top contact that was spray printed using the Ag MOD ink. Inkjet printed films show adhesion differences as a function of the process temperature and solvent. Silver lines with good adhesion and conductivity have been printed on glass with 100 μm resolution.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 2002

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

[1] Teng, K.F. and Vest, R.W., IEEE Electron Device Lett., 9, 591 (1988).Google Scholar
[2] Ghannam, M., Sivoththaman, S., Poortmans, J., Szlufcik, J., Nijs, J., Mertens, R., and Overstraeten, R. Van, Solar Energy, 59, 1-3, 101110 (1997).Google Scholar
[3] Curtis, C.J., Miedaner, A., Rivkin, T., Alleman, J., Schulz, D.L., and Ginley, D.S., Mater. Res. Soc. Symp. Proc., 624, (2001).Google Scholar
[4] Nijs, J., Demesmaeker, E., Szlufick, J., Poortmans, J., Frisson, L., Clercq, K. De, Ghannam, M., Mertens, R., and Overstraeten, R Van, Solar Energy Materials and Solar Cells, 41/42, 101117 (1996).Google Scholar
[5] Berger, H.H., J. Electrochem. Soc., 119, 4, 507 (1972).Google Scholar
[6] Maenosono, S., Dushkin, C. D., Saita, S., and Yamaguchi, Y., Langmuir, 15, 957965 (1999).Google Scholar