Silver Nanoparticle Electrode Composition for Low-Temperature Solar Cells
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional methods for manufacturing solar cell electrodes face challenges in maintaining high electric conductivity and reflectance over time due to the degradation of organic materials used in low-temperature sintering processes, and they often require high-temperature baking that can damage substrate materials.
Innovation Solution
A composition of metal nanoparticles, primarily silver, with a primary grain size of 10 to 50 nm, chemically modified by a protective agent with a carbon backbone of 1 to 3 carbon atoms, dispersed in a medium, allowing for low-temperature baking (130 to 400°C) without organic material residue, and optionally including additives like metal oxides or silicone oils for enhanced adhesion and texture control.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by stationary object
If low-temperature sintering (100 to 250°C) is used to manufacture solar cell electrodes, then energy consumption is reduced and substrate damage is avoided, but organic material degrades over time causing loss of electric conductivity and reflectance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical composition parameters of the organic vehicle from conventional high-molecular-weight resins to low-molecular-weight carboxylic acids (formic acid, acetic acid, propionic acid) with specific molecular weights. This parameter change enables complete decomposition and volatilization at low sintering temperatures (100-250°C), eliminating carbon residue that would otherwise degrade over time and maintain electrode reliability without requiring high temperatures.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs low-molecular-weight organic vehicles that are intentionally designed to be temporary and completely decomposable during sintering. These short-living organic materials serve only as transient binding agents during the coating process and completely volatilize during low-temperature sintering, leaving no persistent carbon residue that would cause long-term degradation of electrode properties.
2Temperature
If conventional organic vehicles are used in low-temperature sintering, then substrate damage is avoided, but carbon residue forms causing deterioration of electrode properties over time
Solution Approach 1:
The patent fundamentally changes the molecular weight parameter of the organic vehicle from conventional high-molecular-weight resins (polymers) to low-molecular-weight carboxylic acids (1-3 carbon atoms). This parameter change transforms the thermal behavior during sintering: the low-molecular-weight compounds completely decompose and volatilize at 100-250°C without forming persistent carbon residue, thereby eliminating the harmful effect while maintaining low processing temperature.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the potential harm of organic material degradation into a benefit by selecting low-molecular-weight carboxylic acids that completely volatilize without forming carbon residue. The organic vehicle's decomposition, which would normally be harmful, is transformed into a beneficial complete removal process that leaves no carbon residue to cause long-term electrode deterioration.
3Object-generated harmful factors
If high-temperature baking is used to remove organic material completely, then carbon residue is eliminated, but substrate materials with low heatproof temperature are damaged
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the organic vehicle's molecular weight and chemical structure parameters to enable complete decomposition and volatilization at low temperatures (100-250°C). This parameter change allows the organic material to be completely removed without carbon residue formation while keeping the baking temperature below the heatproof temperature limit of the substrate, thereby eliminating both carbon residue and substrate damage simultaneously.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution results in electrodes with sustained high electric conductivity and reflectance, improved adhesion, and reduced production costs due to lower processing temperatures, suitable for various substrate materials including those with low heatproof temperatures.
Implementation Method 1
metal nanoparticles are dispersed in a dispersive medium
Implementation Method 2
baking the base material having the film formed on an upper surface at 130 to 400° C.
Implementation Method 3
without organic material residue
Data Source
AI summary
A composition for manufacturing an electrode of a solar cell, comprising metal nanoparticles dispersed in a dispersive medium, wherein the metal nanoparticles contain silver nanoparticles of 75 weight % or more, the metal nanoparticles are chemically modified by a protective agent having a main chain of organic molecule comprising a carbon backbone of carbon number of 1 to 3, and the metal nanoparticles contains 70% or more in number-average of metal nanoparticles having a primary grain size within a range of 10 to 50 nm.