Electroconductive thick film composition, electrode, and solar cell formed therefrom

Abstract

The electroconductive thick film paste of the present invention is a silver electroconductive paste, which includes silver particles, glass particles, and an organic vehicle, and is used in an electrode for connecting a back face terminal on the silicon substrate of a solar cell, and is characterized by the fact that the average particle diameter of said silver particles is 3.0-15.0 μm. The present invention is further directed to an electrode formed from the composition as detailed above and a solar cell comprising said electrode.

1 . A thick film conductive composition comprising:
 (a) metal particles selected from Cu, Au, Ag, Pd, Pt, alloys of Cu, Au, Ag, Pd, Pt, and mixtures thereof;   (b) glass particles; dispersed in   (c) an organic vehicle, and
 wherein said composition is used in an electrode for connecting a back face terminal on a silicon substrate of a solar cell, 
 and wherein the average particle diameter of said metal particles is in the range of 3.0-15.0 μm. 
   
   
   
       2 . The composition of  claim 1  comprising, based on weight percent total composition: 40-93 weight percent of said metal particles, 2-10 weight percent of said glass particles, and 5-50 weight percent organic vehicle. 
   
   
       3 . The thick film composition of any one of  claim 1  or  2  wherein said glass particles are characterized by the fact that the softening point of said glass particles is in the range of 450-550° C. 
   
   
       4 . The composition of  claim 1  further comprising aluminum. 
   
   
       5 . An electrode formed from the composition of  claim 1  wherein said composition has been fired to remove the organic vehicle and sinter said glass particles.