01.03.17
Imec and BE Semiconductor Industries N.V. (Besi), a leading manufacturer of assembly equipment for the semiconductor industry, demonstrated long-term reliability in five full size 60-cells nickel/copper/silver (Ni/Cu/Ag) plated solar cell modules,
The modules consist of 60 front side laser ablated and Ni-Cu-Ag plated p-type Cz-Si cells. The plating was performed with Meco’s Direct Plating Line, an industrial plating tool, followed by annealing in an inline belt furnace. Cells were interconnected using standard soldering and lamination processes.
Two of the five modules were subjected to 600 thermal cycles (-40°C to +85°C) and they passed this three times IEC61215 specification with overall power losses of only 1.5% and 1.8%.One of the modules was subjected to a 1000h damp-heat test (85°C, 85% RH) with no power loss (0.1% gain), and two of the five modules were submitted to a serial testing of 15 kWh UV-conditioning followed by 50 cycles temperature cycling followed by 10 cycles humidity-freeze-test, after which they showed overall power losses of 0.5% and 3.0%.
These test results prove the long-term reliability potential of imec’s and Besi’s Cu-plated cells and modules, as they have now outperformed the industrial standard for reliability, which requires less than 5.0% loss relative to initial power.
The modules consist of 60 front side laser ablated and Ni-Cu-Ag plated p-type Cz-Si cells. The plating was performed with Meco’s Direct Plating Line, an industrial plating tool, followed by annealing in an inline belt furnace. Cells were interconnected using standard soldering and lamination processes.
Two of the five modules were subjected to 600 thermal cycles (-40°C to +85°C) and they passed this three times IEC61215 specification with overall power losses of only 1.5% and 1.8%.One of the modules was subjected to a 1000h damp-heat test (85°C, 85% RH) with no power loss (0.1% gain), and two of the five modules were submitted to a serial testing of 15 kWh UV-conditioning followed by 50 cycles temperature cycling followed by 10 cycles humidity-freeze-test, after which they showed overall power losses of 0.5% and 3.0%.
These test results prove the long-term reliability potential of imec’s and Besi’s Cu-plated cells and modules, as they have now outperformed the industrial standard for reliability, which requires less than 5.0% loss relative to initial power.