ASM Alternative Energy Contributes to Significant Fine Line, High Aspect Ratio Conductor Printing Result on PERC Solar Cells


Working alongside long-time partner, Institute for Solar Energy Research Hamelin (ISFH), ASM Alternative Energy (AE) has recently contributed to some of the industry’s most impressive solar cell printing results. Utilizing an ASM AE Eclipse metallization platform, VectorGuard™ Fine-Line Stencils, and precision metal squeegees in combination with ISFH’s proven PERC solar cell production techniques, fired conductor fingers measuring 28 µm wide by 20 µm high were successfully printed.



“A fired aspect ratio higher than 0.7 is a remarkable achievement,” explains Tom Falcon, ASM AE Principal Engineer. “This project yielded conductor fingers with aspect ratios of 0.71; a result that enables greater solar cell electrical efficiency and lower overall production cost. Indeed, this is a very positive development for the PV industry.”



ISFH, a German solar energy institute, is a developer of high efficiency Passivated Emitter and Rear Cell (PERC) solar cells. This latest work, which leveraged metallization tools from ASM AE, resulted in optimized printing of the PERC cell front silver collector grid in order to improve the overall electrical efficiency of the cells. The ability to print narrower lines reduces shadowing, with taller lines providing lower electrical resistance. High aspect ratio lines with lines with excellent height uniformity produce the highest cell efficiency, while reducing the required quantity of silver paste required and, therefore, lowering costs.



“While this project was carried out in a lab environment, we target an industrially feasible process that is easily scaled up,” comments Dr. Thorsten Dullweber, ISFH Head of  Photovoltaics, who was project team leader for this initiative. “All tools and materials used in the process are readily available industry technologies; the expectation is that with uniform conductors this thin and high, an efficiency increase of 0.2% on average can be achieved in high volume production when compared to a standard screen printing process.”



ASM AE and ISFH have collaborated on numerous PV industry projects, all with the aim of raising efficiency, improving productivity and reducing solar cell manufacturing costs. For more information, visit www.asm-ae.com and www.isfh.de.



About ASM Alternative Energy

Acquired by ASM Pacific Technology Ltd. (ASMPT) in 2014, the brand formerly known as DEK Solar along with the solar technology portfolio from ASMPT are now united as ASM Alternative Energy. Encompassing all of the award-winning DEK Solar technology and innovation developed over the last ten years combined with the product portfolio, global resources and solar innovation of ASMPT, ASM Alternative Energy leads the market in fuel cell and solar cell solutions. Technologies include market-leading solar and fuel cell metallization/printing platforms, advanced stencils and screens, SolarBlades and SolarWIS wafer inspection systems. For more information, visit www.asm-ae.com.



ASM Pacific Technology Limited

ASM Pacific Technology (ASMPT) has been listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange since 1989. The ASMPT Group develops systems and solutions for semiconductor production and packaging as well as surface mount technology applications. The company has plants in Hong Kong, China, Singapore, Malaysia and Germany.



ASMPT is currently one of the constituent stocks on the Hang Seng HK MidCap Index under the Hang Seng Composite Index, the Hang Seng Information Technology Industry Index, the Hang Seng Hong Kong 35 index and the Hang Seng Global Composite Index.



For more information about ASMPT, visit www.asmpacific.com.



Please direct reader enquiries to:

ASM Alternative Energy

Louise Fang

Senior Marketing Communications Officer

E-mail: louise.fang@asmpt.com


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