Kerry Pianoforte04.02.12
DuPont Microcircuit Materials (MCM) has introduced DuPont Solamet PV416 photovoltaic metallization, a new frontside silver paste material used to raise the efficiency of thin film photovoltaic cells.
This new silver composition has the capability to be processed at temperatures less than 140°C, and provides improved contact resistance, conductivity, adhesion and fine line resolution when printed on transparent conductive oxides (TCOs) - these are key properties for improved performance in copper indium gallium (di)selenide (CIGS), amorphous silicon (a-Si) and organic photovoltaic (OPV) cells and modules. The material has most recently been adopted at Midsummer AB, where it has demonstrated a 0.5 percent increase in conversion efficiency on stainless steel-based CIGS cells.
“DuPont continues to advance metallization technology for thin film photovoltaics, and Solamet PV416 represents the latest generation of performance improvements,” said Kerry Adams, European business development manager, DuPont MCM. “Working in close collaboration with innovative module makers such as Midsummer gives us insights on how we can engineer materials to meet their needs for easier processing and increased efficiency that strengthen their competitive edge.”
“Midsummer offers a unique and cost-effective turnkey CIGS solar cell manufacturing solution with the DUO Line, and we have high standards for metallization paste performance on our stainless steel substrate,” said Sven Lindström, CEO, Midsummer AB. “Solamet PV416 enabled us to print fine lines with a high aspect ratio for greater conductivity and gave the best result of the five different brands we have tested, raising the conversion efficiency by half a percent. As we screen print every single cell, instead of scribing large modules, the performance of the metallization paste is of extra importance for Midsummer and its customers."
This new silver composition has the capability to be processed at temperatures less than 140°C, and provides improved contact resistance, conductivity, adhesion and fine line resolution when printed on transparent conductive oxides (TCOs) - these are key properties for improved performance in copper indium gallium (di)selenide (CIGS), amorphous silicon (a-Si) and organic photovoltaic (OPV) cells and modules. The material has most recently been adopted at Midsummer AB, where it has demonstrated a 0.5 percent increase in conversion efficiency on stainless steel-based CIGS cells.
“DuPont continues to advance metallization technology for thin film photovoltaics, and Solamet PV416 represents the latest generation of performance improvements,” said Kerry Adams, European business development manager, DuPont MCM. “Working in close collaboration with innovative module makers such as Midsummer gives us insights on how we can engineer materials to meet their needs for easier processing and increased efficiency that strengthen their competitive edge.”
“Midsummer offers a unique and cost-effective turnkey CIGS solar cell manufacturing solution with the DUO Line, and we have high standards for metallization paste performance on our stainless steel substrate,” said Sven Lindström, CEO, Midsummer AB. “Solamet PV416 enabled us to print fine lines with a high aspect ratio for greater conductivity and gave the best result of the five different brands we have tested, raising the conversion efficiency by half a percent. As we screen print every single cell, instead of scribing large modules, the performance of the metallization paste is of extra importance for Midsummer and its customers."