Laser processing of materials for renewable energy applications

Abstract

The significant advances in high-power lasers with the attainment of tens of kilowatts of optical power, high repetition rates (>MHz), reduction in size, lower cost per photon (<1$/watt), and high optical power conversion efficiency (>30%) are driving the use of lasers for material processing for renewable energy materials. The significant advances in high-power lasers with the attainment of tens of kilowatts of optical power, high repetition rates (>MHz), reduction in size, lower cost per photon (<1$/watt), and high optical power conversion efficiency (>30%) are driving the use of lasers for material processing with very high throughput. The use of renewable energy is also increasing as an alternative power source. This review examines the various aspects of laser processing for renewable energy materials and provides an overview of fundamentals of laser material interactions, advances in high-power lasers, and specific examples of laser processing of materials for photovoltaics, solar thermal energy, thermophotovoltaics, thermoelectrics, and thin films. High-power lasers have been adapted for solar cell manufacturing applications, and new processes such as laser doping, laser transfer of metal contacts, laser annealing, etc. are being advanced further for industrial applications. The future of laser processing for renewable energy materials looks very bright with further advances expected in high-power lasers, beam delivery systems, and decreasing cost with very high reliability. Lasers can provide noncontact localized energy deposition with the potential for all low-temperature processing of materials and a very low thermal budget.