Titanium Metallic Glass Conductive Paste for Solar Cell Electrodes
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Solution Overview
Problem
The high cost and complex process of fabricating electrodes for solar cells, particularly due to the expensive conductive powders used, necessitate a cost-effective and simplified method for improving solar cell efficiency by reducing the amount of conductive powder in the conductive paste while maintaining electrical conductivity.
Innovation Solution
A conductive paste comprising a titanium-based metallic glass with a supercooled liquid region and low resistivity after crystallization, combined with a conductive powder, is used to form electrodes, where the titanium-based metallic glass has a supercooled liquid region of 5K or more and resistivity after crystallization less than before by 50% or more, and a weight increase of 0.5 mg/cm2 or less after heating, allowing for efficient conductivity and cost reduction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If the amount of conductive powder in the conductive paste is reduced to lower cost, then the cost decreases, but the electrical conductivity may deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a composite material system consisting of conductive powder particles embedded in a metallic glass matrix. The metallic glass serves as both the binder and a conductive medium, creating a composite structure that maintains electrical conductivity while reducing the amount of expensive conductive powder needed. The composite achieves synergistic effects where the metallic glass phase provides continuous conductive pathways between conductive powder particles.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical and chemical parameters of the conductive paste by incorporating metallic glass with specific properties: supercooled liquid region of 5K or more, resistivity after crystallization less than before by 50% or more, and weight increase of 0.5 mg/cm² or less after heating. These parameter changes enable the paste to maintain high conductivity at reduced conductive powder content.
2Reliability
If a deposition method is used to fabricate the electrode, then the electrical conductivity is high, but the process becomes complicated and costly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a screen-printable conductive paste that can be applied directly to the substrate using simple printing techniques. This disposable paste formulation eliminates the need for complex deposition equipment and multiple processing steps, while still achieving electrodes with sufficient electrical conductivity for solar cell applications. The paste is designed to be fired at relatively low temperatures to form the final electrode structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces complex mechanical deposition systems with a simpler screen printing process. The conductive paste is applied through a screen or stencil using printing pressure, eliminating the need for vacuum deposition chambers, sputtering equipment, or other complex mechanical deposition apparatus. This substitution dramatically simplifies the manufacturing process while maintaining electrode performance.
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 use of titanium-based metallic glass in the conductive paste reduces the overall cost and complexity of electrode fabrication, maintains high conductivity, and enhances the efficiency of solar cells by optimizing the supercooled liquid region and resistivity characteristics.
Implementation Method 1
a resistivity after crystallization that is less than a resistivity before crystallization by about 50% or more
Implementation Method 2
The titanium-based metallic glass has a supercooled liquid region of about 5K or more
Data Source
AI summary
According to example embodiments, a conductive paste includes a conductive component that contains a conductive powder and a titanium (Ti)-based metallic glass. The titanium-based metallic glass has a supercooled liquid region of about 5K or more, a resistivity after crystallization that is less than a resistivity before crystallization by about 50% or more, and a weight increase by about 0.5 mg/cm2 or less after being heated in a process furnace at a firing temperature. According to example embodiments, an electronic device and a solar cell may include at least one electrode formed using the conductive paste according to example embodiments.