AMA Tech is developing a cutting-edge metallization paste for the front side of tunnel oxide passivated contact (TOPCon) crystalline silicon solar cells, which is expected to improve TOPCon solar cell efficiency significantly. This development has the potential to disrupt the photovoltaic industry, as even a small increase in cell efficiency could replace current passivated emitter and rear cell (PERC) technology. Metallization is one of the most important processes in solar cells production. A metallization paste used in the process is made up of metal powders, glass frits, inorganic additives, and organic materials. Glass frits and inorganic additives play a crucial role in the metallization firing process. They need to etch evenly the front-side anti-reflection layers while maintaining the ultrathin underlying structure. The front side metallization of TOPCon cells presents a formidable challenge. However, AMA Tech's experienced personnel in the photovoltaic metallization field have successfully invented and marketed metallization pastes for earlier generations of c-Si solar cells, giving them extensive expertise to tackle these challenges and deliver a high-performing solution for TOPCon cells. The Solar Power Fab at Arizona State University (ASU) will fabricate TOPCon solar cells and assess their performance in terms of recombination current density, specific contact resistivity, and cell efficiency. Several rounds of iteration may be required to finalize the formulation and achieve the target efficiency. AMA Tech's high- performance metallization pastes can enable precise control over the etching of front-side anti-reflection layers during the firing process. This precise control helps to reduce recombination loss and lower specific contact resistivity, ultimately resulting in a significant boost in efficiency without driving up production costs. The development of a metallization solution for the TOPCon c-Si technology is a significant step forward in the photovoltaic industry, as it has the potential to greatly lower the cost of solar energy and make it a viable alternative to traditional fossil fuel power generation. With the support of the Inflation Reduction Act and advancements in solar tech, investment is likely to flow into expanding c-Si solar cell production, building new solar cell facilities, and creating high-pay manufacturing jobs in the US. A successful outcome of this program could also position the US as a leading player in the worldwide metallization industry and open a multi-billion-dollar market.
