Solar cells with thermoplastic busbars
Silver savings in the interconnection of solar
Exhibitors
Location
Hall 11, Stand B06
Description
In order for the electrical energy generated in solar cells to be used, the cells must be metallized and connected to form modules. To do this, narrow contact lines – “fingers” – are applied to their front side, collecting the charges and transferring them to wider busbars. These current collection tracks conduct the electrical current to the module connections. Copper wire is used for connections. In conventional solar cell production, copper wires are soldered, requiring silver busbars. Solder pads ensure a permanent mechanical connection. The solar industry currently accounts for around 15 percent of global annual silver production, and this figure is rising sharply. The Institute for Mechanical Process Engineering and Mechanics (MVM) at KIT has developed a technology that replaces busbars and solder pads with a thermoplastic, electrically conductive adhesive. This consists of a thermoplastic polymer with a melting temperature between 100 and 200 degrees Celsius and electrically conductive fillers such as graphite or silver-coated copper and glass particles. The adhesive is applied during the solar cell production process. In the subsequent stringing process, when several cells are arranged and connected to form a module, the adhesive can be returned to an adhesive state by heating. The copper wires can be pressed directly into this adhesive layer. After cooling, this creates an electrically conductive, mechanically stable cell-copper wire contact without the use of soldering materials. The process is suitable for use with both conventional high-temperature and innovative low-temperature solar cells. It aims to minimize the consumption of rare resources in production, simplifies manufacturing, reduces cost and simplifies recycling.
You can get an overview of this technology at KIT stand. More details can be exchanged individually with the responsible scientific employees of KIT after the industry fair.
Contact
Karlsruher Institut für Technologie (KIT)
- Kaiserstr. 12
- 76131 Karlsruhe
- Germany
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