Solar Energy, Materials Solutions for Cells and Modules

Electrical contacts are a critical part of photovoltaic technology. For these contacts, there is an increasing drive to develop improved processes that differ from current approaches based on physical vapor deposition (PVD) and photolithography. In particular, it would be desirable to develop solution-based atmospheric processes, which would be more cost effective, environmentally benign, and materials efficient. Such processes are proving to be successful for Ag and Ni/Cu contacts. However, to date, it has been very difficult to make good precursor inks from both Al and Mo, because of their inherent chemistries. This project will develop metal nanoparticle, Al and Mo inks and related processes for printing photovoltaic cells, in order to lower the costs of fabrication. The challenge in preparing aluminum and molybdenum inks from nanoparticles is to obtain a stable dispersion that can be coated or printed to give a coherent coating. Commercial Applications and other Benefits as described by the awardee: The new process would represent an enabling technology for the formation of critical contacts in solar cell manufacturing.