Analysis of Thermal Processes Driving Laser Welding of Aluminum Deposited on Glass Substrates for Module Interconnection of Silicon Solar Cells

Publikation: Beitrag in FachzeitschriftArtikelForschungPeer-Review

Autoren

  • Henning Schulte-Huxel
  • Sarah Kajari-Schröder
  • Rolf Brendel

Organisationseinheiten

Externe Organisationen

  • Institut für Solarenergieforschung GmbH (ISFH)
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Details

OriginalspracheEnglisch
Aufsatznummer7296574
Seiten (von - bis)1606-1612
Seitenumfang7
FachzeitschriftIEEE Journal of Photovoltaics
Jahrgang5
Ausgabenummer6
PublikationsstatusVeröffentlicht - 12 Okt. 2015

Abstract

Laser welding of thin Al layers offers a silver-free and highly flexible option for the interconnection of Al-metallized solar cells. Welding requires the melting of the Al layers in order to form a reliable electrical and mechanical contact. Here, we investigate the process driving the melt front of the aluminum, which is attached to a transparent substrate, toward the interface between the two Al layers. In experiments, we observe two different mechanisms depending on the thickness of the irradiated layer. In the case of Al layers thinner than 5 μm, a melt-through of the Al-layer is observed, whereas for thicker layers, thermal expansion causes a breakage of the surface and ejection of molten Al, which enables the contact formation. Using simulations that are based on the finite-element method, we instigate both mechanisms. The simulation results match the experimental observations within the measurement uncertainty. In case of thin layers, the simulation shows that the process is limited by thermal diffusion. For thicker Al layers, the onset of melting on the irradiated side initiates the breakage of the surface and the ejection of the aluminum.

ASJC Scopus Sachgebiete

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Analysis of Thermal Processes Driving Laser Welding of Aluminum Deposited on Glass Substrates for Module Interconnection of Silicon Solar Cells. / Schulte-Huxel, Henning; Kajari-Schröder, Sarah; Brendel, Rolf.
in: IEEE Journal of Photovoltaics, Jahrgang 5, Nr. 6, 7296574, 12.10.2015, S. 1606-1612.

Publikation: Beitrag in FachzeitschriftArtikelForschungPeer-Review

Schulte-Huxel H, Kajari-Schröder S, Brendel R. Analysis of Thermal Processes Driving Laser Welding of Aluminum Deposited on Glass Substrates for Module Interconnection of Silicon Solar Cells. IEEE Journal of Photovoltaics. 2015 Okt 12;5(6):1606-1612. 7296574. doi: 10.1109/JPHOTOV.2015.2478027
Schulte-Huxel, Henning ; Kajari-Schröder, Sarah ; Brendel, Rolf. / Analysis of Thermal Processes Driving Laser Welding of Aluminum Deposited on Glass Substrates for Module Interconnection of Silicon Solar Cells. in: IEEE Journal of Photovoltaics. 2015 ; Jahrgang 5, Nr. 6. S. 1606-1612.
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abstract = "Laser welding of thin Al layers offers a silver-free and highly flexible option for the interconnection of Al-metallized solar cells. Welding requires the melting of the Al layers in order to form a reliable electrical and mechanical contact. Here, we investigate the process driving the melt front of the aluminum, which is attached to a transparent substrate, toward the interface between the two Al layers. In experiments, we observe two different mechanisms depending on the thickness of the irradiated layer. In the case of Al layers thinner than 5 μm, a melt-through of the Al-layer is observed, whereas for thicker layers, thermal expansion causes a breakage of the surface and ejection of molten Al, which enables the contact formation. Using simulations that are based on the finite-element method, we instigate both mechanisms. The simulation results match the experimental observations within the measurement uncertainty. In case of thin layers, the simulation shows that the process is limited by thermal diffusion. For thicker Al layers, the onset of melting on the irradiated side initiates the breakage of the surface and the ejection of the aluminum.",
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