Modules and processes for metal particles removal

Abstract

Embodiments of the present invention provide an apparatus and methods for processing solar cell devices. In one embodiment, a method removing particles from edge regions of the solar cell device by a cleaning module with a constant loading applied onto a back surface of the solar cell device, wherein the cleaning modules has two or more roller-type brushes disposed at opposed sides of a rotation table located before and / or after a quality assurance stage configured to measure and correct defects in the solar cell device, and transferring the solar cell device into an edge deletion station in which an electromagnetic radiation energy is used to remove materials from a top surface of the solar cell device. The roller-type brushes include non-abrasive bristles configured to remove unwanted material from the periphery region of the solar cell device prior to transferring into the edge delete station.

Description

technical field [0001] Embodiments of the invention generally relate to apparatus and processes for performing thin film edge cleaning on solar cell devices in a solar cell production line. Background technique [0002] Photovoltaic (PV) devices or solar cells are devices that convert sunlight into direct current (DC) electrical energy. Typically, a thin film solar cell includes an active region (or photoelectric conversion unit) and a transparent conductive oxide (TCO) film disposed as a front electrode on the bottom of the solar cell, the front electrode In contact with the front glass substrate, and / or the transparent conductive oxide (TCO) film is provided as a back electrode on top of the solar cell. The photoelectric conversion unit may include a p-type silicon layer, an n-type silicon layer, and an intrinsic type (i-type) silicon layer sandwiched between the p-type and n-type silicon layers. Various types of silicon films, such as microcrystalline silicon film (uc-S...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

Once these particles are exposed to high-energy light, such as a laser beam used at a later stage in laser edge removal equipment, or possibly after several hours of exposure to sunlight, the particles are oxidized and become visible to the human eye, which Cause color tone changes of the final solar cell module and / or substandard product reliability over a long period of time

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