Sliced Solar Cell Passivation After Non-Destructive Cutting

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing cutting-then-passivation processes for solar cells fail to achieve optimal matching between cutting and passivation, leading to significant damage and decreased conversion efficiency.

Innovation Solution

Implement non-destructive cutting followed by atomic layer deposition of a passivation layer with controlled reflectivity, roughness, and refractive index on the cutting surface, and limit the overhang width of the passivation layer to minimize damage and enhance matching.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If direct packaging is performed after cutting solar cells, then production efficiency is improved, but cutting damage causes significant decrease in conversion efficiency

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveproduction efficiencyVSAvoidconversion efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by performing passivation treatment on the cutting surface immediately after cutting, before packaging. This preliminary passivation action repairs cutting damage and reduces surface recombination, thereby maintaining high conversion efficiency while still achieving efficient production through streamlined processing.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Power

If cutting is performed to reduce current transmission distance and resistance loss, then output power is improved, but cutting damage occurs on the cell surface

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoutput powerVSAvoidcell surface integrity
Core Design Contradiction:
PowerVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent converts the harmful cutting damage into a beneficial opportunity by applying targeted passivation treatment. The cutting process creates surface damage that increases recombination, but the subsequent passivation treatment transforms this damaged surface into a protected interface with reduced recombination, thereby maintaining both the power benefits of cutting and the surface integrity needed for reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

3Loss of energy

If passivation is applied after cutting to reduce surface recombination, then conversion efficiency is improved, but existing processes fail to achieve complete repair of cutting damage

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesurface recombination lossVSAvoidcutting-passivation matching precision
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of energyVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies parameter changes by optimizing multiple parameters simultaneously: passivation layer thickness (70-150 nm), deposition temperature (150-250°C), and laser cutting parameters. By precisely controlling these parameters, the patent achieves complete repair of cutting damage and stable, high conversion efficiency that existing processes cannot attain.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

4Loss of substance

If half-cutting is performed to improve material utilization rate and reduce thermal stress, then cost and reliability are improved, but cutting damage significantly decreases conversion efficiency

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvematerial utilization rateVSAvoidconversion efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of substanceVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by performing selective passivation treatment only on the cutting surfaces of half-cut cells, rather than treating the entire cell surface. This localized approach repairs the specific cutting damage that causes recombination loss while maintaining the efficiency benefits of half-cutting for material utilization and thermal stress reduction.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

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 repairs cutting damage, standardizes the cutting and passivation processes, and significantly improves the power generation performance of photovoltaic modules by optimizing the cutting and passivation interface.

Implementation Method 1

performing non-destructive cutting on the solar cell to obtain a sliced cell; the non-destructive cutting includes laser grooving followed by laser thermal cleavage cutting

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLaser thermal cleavage: Laser

Implementation Method 2

depositing a passivation layer on an exposed cutting surface of the sliced cell using an atomic layer deposition technology

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAtomic layer deposition: Physical Vapour Deposition

Implementation Method 3

the deposition is followed by an annealing treatment process, with an annealing temperature of 120° C. to 400° C. and an annealing time of 10 min to 60 min

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAnnealing: Annealing

Data Source

PatentUS20260082723A1Solar cell, preparation method therefor, and photovoltaic module
Publication Date: 2026.03.19 HUAIAN JIETAI NEW ENERGY TECHNOLOGY CO LTD

AI summary

The present disclosure relates to the field of solar cell technologies, and in particular, to a solar cell, a preparation method therefor, and a photovoltaic module. The solar cell is a sliced cell. A cutting surface of the sliced cell has a reflectivity of 10% to 90%, a roughness Ra of less than 1 μm, and a roughness Rz of less than 2 μm. A passivation layer is deposited on the cutting surface. A preparation method for a solar cell includes: performing non-destructive cutting on the solar cell to obtain a sliced cell; and depositing a passivation layer on an exposed cutting surface of the sliced cell using an atomic layer deposition technology. According to the present disclosure, a cutting damage is repaired by means of passivation, and cutting and passivation processes are also limited, to standardize an optimal matching value between cutting and passivation.