Size-controlled glass frits with spherical shape for Al electrodes in Si solar cells

Abstract

Size-controlled Pb-based glass frits ranged from 0.48 to 1μm prepared by spray pyrolysis are used as an inorganic binder for Al electrodes. The Al electrodes formed from the pastes with the glass frits above 0.76μm have uniform distribution of glass material inside and on the surface of the electrodes. Pb-based glass frits improve the formation of AlSi alloys by liquid phase sintering. The Al electrodes have well developed back-surface field layers and low specific resistances irrespective of the mean sizes of the glass frits. The specific resistances of the electrodes change from 28.4 to 38.6μπ·cm according to the mean sizes of the glass frits at a heat-up rate of 800°C. The specific resistances of the electrodes are slightly affected by the heat-up rates. © 2011 The Ceramic Society of Japan.