IP Library Granted Patent US 9,680,036
Granted Patent B2
US 9,680,036 · App. 13/342,231 · Granted Jun 13, 2017

Organometallic and hydrocarbon additives for use with aluminum back solar cell contacts

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,680,036
App. No.
13/342,231
Granted
Jun 13, 2017
Kind
B2
Abstract

A method of reducing bow and/or improving the electrical performance of an aluminum back contacted silicon solar cell includes applying to a silicon wafer substrate a paste including aluminum and an organometallic compound, and firing the substrate. The organometallic compound is a C 1 to C 30 organometallic compound of a metal selected from the group consisting of Ag, Al, Ba, Bi, Ca, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, K, Li, Mg, Mn, Mo, Na, Nd, Ni, Sb, Si, Sn, Sr, Ta, V, Zn, Zr. A paste is formed having an exothermic reaction peak at a temperature of at least 300° C. to less than 660° C.

Claims (37)

1. A method of forming an aluminum back contacted silicon solar cell having at least one of reduced bow and improved electrical performance, comprising:

a. providing a silicon wafer substrate,

b. providing a paste comprising:

i. aluminum,

ii. a glass fit, and

iii. an organometallic compound, wherein the organometallic compound is an organic compound of a metal selected from the group consisting of cobalt, manganese, nickel, iron, silicon, tin, antimony, bismuth, vanadium, strontium and combinations thereof,

c. applying the paste to the silicon wafer substrate to form a coated substrate, and

d. firing the coated substrate for a time and at a temperature sufficient to sinter the aluminum together with the organometallic compound and fuse the glass frit.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the organometallic compound is provided in the form of a compound having from 1 to 6 hydrocarbon residues, the residues independently having from 1 to 30 carbon atoms.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the glass frit comprises

a. 15-55 mol % Bi 2 O 3 ,

b. 15-55 mol % SiO 2 ,

c. 1-15 mol % B 2 O 3 , and

d. 5-35 mol % (Li 2 O+Na 2 O+K 2 O).

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the glass frit comprises:

a. 20-55 mol % Bi 2 O 3 ,

b. 10-35 mol % K 2 O,

c. 1-10 mol % B 2 O 3 and

d. 10-50 mol % SiO 2 .

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the glass frit comprises:

a. 10-25 mol % B 2 O 3 ,

b. 0.5-3 mol % K 2 O,

c. 0.01-3 mol % Na 2 O, and

d. 70-90 mol % SiO 2 .

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the glass frit comprises:

a. 5-15 mol % K 2 O,

b. 1-8 mol % Li 2 O,

c. 16-28 mol % Na 2 O,

d. 0.2-8 mol % P 2 O 5 ,

e. 30-50 mol % SiO 2 ,

f. 15-35 mol % TiO 2 , and

g. 1-16 mol % V 2 O 5 .

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein a sufficient amount of the organometallic compound is present in order to provide 100 ppmw to 10 wt % of the metal.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein a sufficient amount of the organometallic compound is present in order to provide 500 ppmw to 8 wt % of the metal.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein a sufficient amount of the organometallic compound is present in order to provide 1000 ppmw to 7 wt % of the metal.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein a sufficient amount of the organometallic compound is present in order to provide 0.05 wt % to 5 wt % of the metal.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein the aluminum metal is present in a proportion of 40-80 wt % of the entire paste.

Assignments (3)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 6, 2013
From: FERRO CORPORATION
To: HERAEUS PRECIOUS METALS NORTH AMERICA CONSHOHOCKEN LLC
Reel/Frame 030557/0466 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Feb 7, 2013
From: PNC BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
To: FERRO CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 029772/0635 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 11, 2012
From: MERCHANT, NAZARALI; SHAIKH, AZIZ S.; KHADILKAR, CHANDRASHEKHAR S.; SRIDHARAN, SRINIVASAN; JIANG, HONG
To: FERRO CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 028027/0435 →