Cavitated Ag Paste for Cost-Effective Solar Cell

TL;DR

This study explores cavitated silver paste produced by cavitation technology as a cost-effective alternative for solar cell manufacturing, achieving comparable efficiency with reduced material costs but some trade-offs in performance.

Contribution

Introduces cavitation technology for producing silver paste, demonstrating its potential to lower costs and improve dispersion in solar cell fabrication.

Findings

Cavitated paste achieves 21% efficiency in PERC solar cells.

Finer gridlines reduce silver usage and costs.

Increased contact resistance affects fill factor.

Abstract

This paper reports on the investigation of cavitated silver paste produced by cavitation technology as a cost-effective alternative to traditional three-roll milling (TRM). Cavitation, utilizing high-frequency sound waves, enhances metal paste dispersion, reduces oxidation, extends shelf life, and minimizes waste. Passivated Emitter and Rear Cell (PERC) solar cells made with cavitated silver paste achieved a 21% energy conversion efficiency, slightly lower than the 22% efficiency of conventional paste. Cavitated paste produced finer gridlines, reducing silver usage and costs but increasing contact resistance, leading to a lower fill factor. Despite this, cavitation technology shows promise for more efficient and cost-effective solar cell production. Further research is needed to optimize efficiency and resistance, highlighting the potential for cavitation technology in commercial applications.