The use of laser technology to shape properties of the contacts of silicon solar cells and their structure

The paper presents the results of the investigation of the front contact manufactured using silver pastes (based on experimentally prepared silver powder) on monocrystalline silicon solar cells in order to reduce contact resistance. Various deposition and fabrication techniques were applied to improve the electrical properties of contacts. The aim of the paper was to apply an unconventional method (selective laser sintering) to improve the quality of forming contacts of silicon solar cells. The topography of both the melted/sintered contact and textured silicon was investigated using atomic force microscopy. Resistance of front electrodes was measured using the Transmission Line Model (TLM). Both surface topography and cross section of front contacts were researched using the scanning electron microscopy.