IP Library Granted Patent US 10,030,176
Granted Patent B2
US 10,030,176 · App. 14/759,926 · Granted Jul 24, 2018

Electrically conductive adhesives comprising fluoroelastomers

View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,030,176
App. No.
14/759,926
Granted
Jul 24, 2018
Kind
B2
Abstract

Disclosed herein is an electrically conductive adhesive composition and its use in solar cell modules, wherein the electrically conductive adhesive comprises a fluoroelastomer matrix and dispersed in the fluoroelastomer matrix about 40-90 wt % of conductive particles, with the wt % of all components comprised in the compositions totaling to 100 wt %.

Claims (23)

1. A solar cell module comprising at least one solar cell and at least one wiring member, wherein,

(i) the at least one solar cell has at least one surface electrode and the at least one wiring member is connected to the at least one surface electrode via an electrically conductive adhesive;

(ii) the electrically conductive adhesive is formed of an adhesive composition comprising an elastomer matrix and 40-90 wt % of electrically conductive particles dispersed in the elastomer matrix, with the wt % of all components comprised in the adhesive composition totaling to 100 wt %; and

(iii) the elastomer matrix comprises at least one fluoroelastomer;

wherein the elastomer matrix comprises at least one vinylidene fluoride-containing fluoroelastomer that is cross-linked with a cross-linking agent; and

wherein the cross-linking agent is selected from the group consisting of bisphenol compounds, diamino compounds, aminophenol compounds, amino-siloxane compounds, amino-silanes, phenol-silanes, peroxides, and combinations of two or more thereof.

2. The solar cell module of claim 1 , wherein the at least one vinylidene fluoride-containing fluoroelastomer is vinylidene fluoride/hexafluoropropylene copolymer.

3. The solar cell module of claim 1 , wherein the elastomer matrix consists essentially of the at least one fluoroelastomer.

4. The solar cell module of claim 1 , wherein the elastomer matrix comprises the at least one fluoroelastomer and at least one ethylene/alkyl (meth)acrylate copolymer elastomer, with the at least one fluoroelastomer present at a level of 65 wt % or more, based on the total weight of the elastomer matrix.

5. The solar cell module of claim 4 , wherein the at least one ethylene/alkyl (meth)acrylate copolymer elastomer comprises polymerized units of ethylene and 40-90 wt % of polymerized units of at least one alkyl (meth)acrylate, based on the total weight of the ethylene/alkyl (meth)acrylate copolymer elastomer.

6. The solar cell module of claim 4 , wherein the at least one ethylene/alkyl (meth)acrylate copolymer elastomer is selected form the group consisting of ethylene/methyl (meth)acrylate copolymers, ethylene/ethyl (meth)acrylate copolymers, ethylene/butyl (meth)acrylate copolymers.

7. The solar cell module of claim 1 , wherein the electrically conductive particles are selected from metal particles and non-metal particles.

8. The solar cell module of claim 7 , wherein the electrically conductive particles are metal particles selected from the group consisting of particles of Au, Ag, Ni, Cu, Al, Sn, Zn, Ti, Sn, Bi, W, Pb, and alloys of two or more thereof.

9. The solar cell module of claim 1 , wherein 40-85 wt % of the electrically conductive particles are dispersed in the elastomer matrix, based on the total weight of the adhesive composition.

10. The solar cell module of claim 1 , wherein the at least one solar cell has a front surface electrode and a back surface electrode, and wherein there are one or more front wiring members connected to the front surface electrode via the electrically conductive adhesive and one or more back wiring members connected to the back surface electrode via the electrically conductive adhesive.

11. The solar cell module of claim 10 , wherein the at least one solar cell is a wafer-based solar cell.

12. The solar cell module of claim 10 , wherein the at least one solar cell is a thin film solar cell.

13. The solar cell module of claim 1 , wherein the electrically conductive particles are selected from metal particles and non-metal particles.

14. The solar cell module of claim 1 , wherein 40-85 wt % of the electrically conductive particles are dispersed in the elastomer matrix, based on the total weight of the adhesive composition.

15. The solar cell module of claim 1 , wherein the at least one solar cell has a front surface electrode and a back surface electrode, and wherein there are one or more front wiring members connected to the front surface electrode via the electrically conductive adhesive and one or more back wiring members connected to the back surface electrode via the electrically conductive adhesive.

16. The solar cell module of claim 4 , wherein the electrically conductive particles are selected from metal particles and non-metal particles.

17. The solar cell module of claim 4 , wherein 40-85 wt % of the electrically conductive particles are dispersed in the elastomer matrix, based on the total weight of the adhesive composition.

18. The solar cell module of claim 4 , wherein the at least one solar cell has a front surface electrode and a back surface electrode, and wherein there are one or more front wiring members connected to the front surface electrode via the electrically conductive adhesive and one or more back wiring members connected to the back surface electrode via the electrically conductive adhesive.

Assignments (3)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 30, 2021
From: DUPONT ELECTRONICS, INC.
To: SOLAR PASTE, LLC
Reel/Frame 055766/0478 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 25, 2019
From: E. I. DU PONT DE NEMOURS AND COMPANY
To: DUPONT ELECTRONICS, INC.
Reel/Frame 049583/0269 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 29, 2015
From: MU, MINFANG; LIU, ZENGJUN
To: E. I. DU PONT DE NEMOURS AND COMPANY
Reel/Frame 036916/0028 →