Solar Cell Electrode Composition with Ag-Te Glass Frit
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing solar cell technologies face challenges in minimizing contact resistance and series resistance, particularly as the area of solar cells increases, which can reduce conversion efficiency and open-circuit voltage, and require materials that maintain thermal stability across a wide range of baking temperatures.
Innovation Solution
A composition for forming a solar cell electrode comprising silver powder, a glass frit containing silver, tellurium, and elements like lithium, sodium, or potassium, with specific molar ratios and additional metal oxides, which reduces contact resistance and series resistance by forming silver crystals and improving adhesion, while maintaining conductivity and thermal stability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If the area of solar cells is increased, then the power output is improved, but the contact resistance and series resistance increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical composition parameters of the glass frit, specifically incorporating silver (0.1-65 mol%), tellurium (0.05-5 mol%), and alkali metal compounds (1-10 mol%) to modify the electrical properties of the electrode material, thereby reducing contact resistance and series resistance while maintaining larger cell area
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses a composite glass frit material containing multiple elements (silver, tellurium, alkali metals, and other metal oxides) combined with silver powder and organic vehicle to create an electrode composition that simultaneously achieves low resistance and large area performance
2Ease of manufacture
If conventional electrode materials are used, then the manufacturing process is simple, but the thermal stability across wide baking temperature ranges is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent modifies the chemical composition parameters of the glass frit by incorporating specific ratios of silver (0.1-65 mol%), tellurium (0.05-5 mol%), and alkali metal compounds (1-10 mol%), which enhances thermal stability across baking temperatures of 700-900°C while maintaining ease of manufacturing through screen printing
3Loss of energy
If contact resistance is reduced, then conversion efficiency is improved, but the complexity of material composition increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a composite glass frit material containing silver, tellurium, alkali metals, and other metal oxides in specific proportions, which reduces contact resistance and improves conversion efficiency while managing composition complexity through systematic formulation
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies different components of the electrode composition (silver powder for conductivity, glass frit for adhesion and thermal stability, organic vehicle for printability) in specific ratios to optimize local properties where needed, achieving low contact resistance without excessive overall complexity
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 composition effectively minimizes contact and series resistance, enhancing conversion efficiency and fill factor of solar cells by improving contact characteristics and thermal stability, thereby addressing the limitations of existing technologies.
Implementation Method 1
Silver in the glass frit may be formed from a silver compound having an ionic dissociation temperature of about 1,100° C. or less
Implementation Method 2
Solar cells convert photons of light from the sun into electrical energy using a photoelectric effect of a PN junction
Data Source
AI summary
Example embodiments relate to a composition for forming a solar cell electrode, and a solar cell electrode prepared using the composition. The composition for forming a solar cell electrode includes a silver (Ag) powder, a glass frit, and an organic vehicle, wherein the glass frit includes silver (Ag); tellurium (Te); and at least one selected from the group of lithium (Li), sodium (Na), and potassium (K), a molar ratio of the silver (Ag):the tellurium (Te) included in the glass frit is in a range of about 1:0.1 to about 1:50, and a molar ratio of the silver (Ag):lithium (Li), sodium (Na) or potassium (K) is in a range of about 1:0.01 to about 1:10. The solar cell electrode prepared using the composition has excellent fill factor and conversion efficiency due to minimized contact resistance (Rc) and series resistance (Rs).