Fine line screen printed silver electrodes for copper electrodeposition
Soldering & Surface Mount Technology
ISSN: 0954-0911
Article publication date: 15 January 2018
Issue publication date: 27 March 2018
Abstract
Purpose
In this paper, results of the studies on the copper deposition on screen-printed fine-line front electrode of the solar cell were presented. The silver consumption is an important problem according to growing silver prices. The proposed solution of those problems might be printing of a very thin silver seed layer and subsequent copper plating. This process can be an alternative for typically used screen printing. The purpose of this study was the optimization of the finger path fabrication process to obtain required geometric of fingers for copper deposition.
Design/methodology/approach
In this paper, double-step metallization process was analyzed. The first step of an electrode formation is screen printing, the second one is copper electrodeposition. Presented investigations were focused on the optimization of the finger path fabrication process to obtain required geometric dimensions and sharp border of fingers. The morphology of the electrodes was characterized by scanning electron microscope before and after copper deposition. The X-ray analysis of elemental arrangement and cross-section profiles of fingers were made using energy-dispersive X-ray fluorescence spectrometer.
Findings
Presented investigations were focused on the optimization of the finger path fabrication process to obtain required geometric dimensions and sharp border of fingers without any silver particles. The main problem of non-uniform silver paste distribution close to the border of printed finger paths was eliminated by selection of appropriate paste and printing parameters. The obtained coatings were soft, ductile and bright.
Originality/value
The novelty of the presented approach is modification of the printing parameters, especially for copper deposition. In this paper, the reasons of the widening of electrodes during the copper deposition process is analyzed.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
This research was co-financed by The National Centre for Research and Development – Poland and The National Fund for Environmental Protection and Water Management, under the program GEKON (Generator of Ecological Concepts) project: “Innovative flexible photovoltaic cover”. The part of the investigations SEM examination was financed by IMMS PAS as a statutory work. The SEM examination measurements were performed in Accredited Testing Laboratories at the IMMS PAS (ILAC-MRA).
The author would also like to thank Dr Anna Sypien for assistance in the SEM research and Dr Agnieszka Bigos for assistance in the copper deposition.
Citation
Drabczyk, K. (2020), "Fine line screen printed silver electrodes for copper electrodeposition", Soldering & Surface Mount Technology, Vol. 30 No. 2, pp. 129-134. https://doi.org/10.1108/SSMT-11-2017-0039
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
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