US 12,243,950 B2
Pastes for solar cells, solar cells, and methods of making same
Thad Druffel, Louisville, KY (US); and Ruvini Dharmadasa, Louisville, KY (US)
Assigned to Bert Thin Films, Inc., Louisville, KY (US)
Filed by Bert Thin Films, Inc., Louisville, KY (US)
Filed on Jun. 10, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/837,087.
Application 17/837,087 is a continuation of application No. PCT/US2020/064514, filed on Dec. 11, 2020.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/947,316, filed on Dec. 12, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2022/0320357 A1, Oct. 6, 2022
Int. Cl. H01B 1/22 (2006.01); H01L 31/0224 (2006.01); H01L 31/05 (2014.01); H01L 31/18 (2006.01)
CPC H01L 31/0512 (2013.01) [H01B 1/22 (2013.01); H01L 31/02245 (2013.01); H01L 31/18 (2013.01)] 33 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A paste for use in metallization of a solar cell, the paste comprising:
an organic vehicle including polyvinylpyrrolidone, and
a mixture of copper-containing particles, metal-oxide-containing nanoparticles, and secondary oxide particles in the organic vehicle,
wherein the metal-oxide-containing nanoparticles include nanoparticles consisting of a mixed oxide selected from oxides of
(i) nickel and lead;
(ii) manganese and lead;
(iii) copper, nickel, and lead;
(iv) copper, silver, nickel, and lead;
(v) cobalt and lead;
(vi) nickel, cobalt, and lead; or
(vii) nickel, silver, and lead, or
(viii) a mixture of two or more nanoparticles (i)-(vii), and
wherein the secondary oxide particles include particles of a metal oxide, and a metal of the metal oxide is capable of reducing at least some of the metal-oxide-containing nanoparticles to metal when the paste is heated to a temperature at which the organic vehicle decomposes.