DuPont Photovoltaic Solutions and Applied Materials, Inc., have
announced a collaboration to advance a printing technology that
is expected to increase the absolute efficiency of crystalline
silicon (c-Si) photovoltaic (PV) solar cells. By increasing the
efficiency and yield of solar cells and modules, PV power can
become more cost effective versus other forms of energy. The
collaboration reflects DuPont’s recently announced commitment to
focus on meeting four emerging global trends, one of which is
decreasing dependence on fossil fuels. In current solar-cell
manufacturing processes, photovoltaic metallization pastes are
screen printed onto the cell surface in a pattern of grid lines
which collect electricity produced by the cell and transport it
out. To maximize efficiency in the solar cell, the multiple
printing technology will reduce the shadowing effect of wide
grid lines on solar cells and improve electrical conductivity.
Use of Applied Materials’ Baccini Esatto Technology™ and
Solamet® photovoltaic meta