SBIR Phase I: Nanonickel Based Printable Inks for Front Side Metallization of Silicon Solar Cells

小企业创新研究（SBIR）第一阶段项目旨在开发用于硅太阳能电池正面金属化的镍基纳米油墨。当前的正面金属化工艺依赖于使用银膏的丝网印刷接触方法，所述银膏包含需要800至900摄氏度的高固化温度的玻璃料。高温在硅晶片上引入应力，并且接触方法有使晶片破裂的风险。在这个项目中，纳米镍油墨将在300至400摄氏度的低温下通过非接触式气溶胶喷射方法合成并沉积在太阳能电池板上。纳米镍油墨将用作太阳能电池板正面金属化的种子层。一层额外的铜纳米油墨将沉积在镍层的顶部，从而形成更厚的导电线。该项目的更广泛/商业影响将是使用非接触方法为晶体硅太阳能电池的正面金属化提供银膏的具有成本效益的替代品。 期望提供提高正面金属化的质量同时降低成本的制造工艺和材料。

This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project aims to develop nickel-based nanoinks for the front-side metallization of silicon solar cells. Current front-side metallization processes rely on screen printing contact methods that use silver paste, which contains glass frits that require high curing temperatures from 800 to 900 degree Celsius. The high temperatures introduce stress on the silicon wafer and the contact method risks cracking the wafer. In this project, nanonickel inks will be synthesized and deposited on solar panels by a non-contact Aerosol-Jet method at low temperatures from 300 to 400 degree Celsius. The nanonickel inks will be used as a seed layer for front-side metallization of solar panels. An additional layer of copper nanoinks will be deposited on top of the nickel layer creating thicker conductive lines. The broader/commercial impact of this project will be the potential to offer a cost-effective replacement to silver paste for the front-side metallization of crystalline-silicon solar cells using a non-contact method. It is expected to provide manufacturing processes and materials that enhance quality of front-side metallization while reducing cost.