Classifications

• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H10—SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES; ELECTRIC SOLID-STATE DEVICES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • H10F—INORGANIC SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES SENSITIVE TO INFRARED RADIATION, LIGHT, ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION OF SHORTER WAVELENGTH OR CORPUSCULAR RADIATION
  • H10F19/00—Integrated devices, or assemblies of multiple devices, comprising at least one photovoltaic cell covered by group H10F10/00, e.g. photovoltaic modules
  • H10F19/90—Structures for connecting between photovoltaic cells, e.g. interconnections or insulating spacers
  • H10F19/902—Structures for connecting between photovoltaic cells, e.g. interconnections or insulating spacers for series or parallel connection of photovoltaic cells
  • H10F19/906—Structures for connecting between photovoltaic cells, e.g. interconnections or insulating spacers for series or parallel connection of photovoltaic cells characterised by the materials of the structures
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C09—DYES; PAINTS; POLISHES; NATURAL RESINS; ADHESIVES; COMPOSITIONS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; APPLICATIONS OF MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • C09D—COATING COMPOSITIONS, e.g. PAINTS, VARNISHES OR LACQUERS; FILLING PASTES; CHEMICAL PAINT OR INK REMOVERS; INKS; CORRECTING FLUIDS; WOODSTAINS; PASTES OR SOLIDS FOR COLOURING OR PRINTING; USE OF MATERIALS THEREFOR
  • C09D123/00—Coating compositions based on homopolymers or copolymers of unsaturated aliphatic hydrocarbons having only one carbon-to-carbon double bond; Coating compositions based on derivatives of such polymers
  • C09D123/02—Coating compositions based on homopolymers or copolymers of unsaturated aliphatic hydrocarbons having only one carbon-to-carbon double bond; Coating compositions based on derivatives of such polymers not modified by chemical after-treatment
  • C09D123/04—Homopolymers or copolymers of ethene
  • C09D123/08—Copolymers of ethene
  • C09D123/0846—Copolymers of ethene with unsaturated hydrocarbons containing other atoms than carbon or hydrogen atoms
  • C09D123/0869—Acids or derivatives thereof
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C09—DYES; PAINTS; POLISHES; NATURAL RESINS; ADHESIVES; COMPOSITIONS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; APPLICATIONS OF MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • C09J—ADHESIVES; NON-MECHANICAL ASPECTS OF ADHESIVE PROCESSES IN GENERAL; ADHESIVE PROCESSES NOT PROVIDED FOR ELSEWHERE; USE OF MATERIALS AS ADHESIVES
  • C09J123/00—Adhesives based on homopolymers or copolymers of unsaturated aliphatic hydrocarbons having only one carbon-to-carbon double bond; Adhesives based on derivatives of such polymers
  • C09J123/02—Adhesives based on homopolymers or copolymers of unsaturated aliphatic hydrocarbons having only one carbon-to-carbon double bond; Adhesives based on derivatives of such polymers not modified by chemical after-treatment
  • C09J123/04—Homopolymers or copolymers of ethene
  • C09J123/08—Copolymers of ethene
  • C09J123/0846—Copolymers of ethene with unsaturated hydrocarbons containing other atoms than carbon or hydrogen atoms
  • C09J123/0853—Vinylacetate
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C09—DYES; PAINTS; POLISHES; NATURAL RESINS; ADHESIVES; COMPOSITIONS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; APPLICATIONS OF MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • C09J—ADHESIVES; NON-MECHANICAL ASPECTS OF ADHESIVE PROCESSES IN GENERAL; ADHESIVE PROCESSES NOT PROVIDED FOR ELSEWHERE; USE OF MATERIALS AS ADHESIVES
  • C09J133/00—Adhesives based on homopolymers or copolymers of compounds having one or more unsaturated aliphatic radicals, each having only one carbon-to-carbon double bond, and at least one being terminated by only one carboxyl radical, or of salts, anhydrides, esters, amides, imides, or nitriles thereof; Adhesives based on derivatives of such polymers
  • C09J133/04—Homopolymers or copolymers of esters
  • C09J133/06—Homopolymers or copolymers of esters of esters containing only carbon, hydrogen and oxygen, the oxygen atom being present only as part of the carboxyl radical
  • C09J133/10—Homopolymers or copolymers of methacrylic acid esters
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C09—DYES; PAINTS; POLISHES; NATURAL RESINS; ADHESIVES; COMPOSITIONS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; APPLICATIONS OF MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • C09J—ADHESIVES; NON-MECHANICAL ASPECTS OF ADHESIVE PROCESSES IN GENERAL; ADHESIVE PROCESSES NOT PROVIDED FOR ELSEWHERE; USE OF MATERIALS AS ADHESIVES
  • C09J9/00—Adhesives characterised by their physical nature or the effects produced, e.g. glue sticks
  • C09J9/02—Electrically-conducting adhesives
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
  • H01B—CABLES; CONDUCTORS; INSULATORS; SELECTION OF MATERIALS FOR THEIR CONDUCTIVE, INSULATING OR DIELECTRIC PROPERTIES
  • H01B1/00—Conductors or conductive bodies characterised by the conductive materials; Selection of materials as conductors
  • H01B1/20—Conductive material dispersed in non-conductive organic material
  • H01B1/22—Conductive material dispersed in non-conductive organic material the conductive material comprising metals or alloys
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H10—SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES; ELECTRIC SOLID-STATE DEVICES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • H10F—INORGANIC SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES SENSITIVE TO INFRARED RADIATION, LIGHT, ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION OF SHORTER WAVELENGTH OR CORPUSCULAR RADIATION
  • H10F77/00—Constructional details of devices covered by this subclass
  • H10F77/20—Electrodes
  • H10F77/206—Electrodes for devices having potential barriers
  • H10F77/211—Electrodes for devices having potential barriers for photovoltaic cells
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C08—ORGANIC MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS; THEIR PREPARATION OR CHEMICAL WORKING-UP; COMPOSITIONS BASED THEREON
  • C08K—Use of inorganic or non-macromolecular organic substances as compounding ingredients
  • C08K3/00—Use of inorganic substances as compounding ingredients
  • C08K3/02—Elements
  • C08K3/08—Metals
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C08—ORGANIC MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS; THEIR PREPARATION OR CHEMICAL WORKING-UP; COMPOSITIONS BASED THEREON
  • C08K—Use of inorganic or non-macromolecular organic substances as compounding ingredients
  • C08K5/00—Use of organic ingredients
  • C08K5/04—Oxygen-containing compounds
  • C08K5/14—Peroxides
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C08—ORGANIC MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS; THEIR PREPARATION OR CHEMICAL WORKING-UP; COMPOSITIONS BASED THEREON
  • C08K—Use of inorganic or non-macromolecular organic substances as compounding ingredients
  • C08K7/00—Use of ingredients characterised by shape
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C08—ORGANIC MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS; THEIR PREPARATION OR CHEMICAL WORKING-UP; COMPOSITIONS BASED THEREON
  • C08L—COMPOSITIONS OF MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS
  • C08L2203/00—Applications
  • C08L2203/20—Applications use in electrical or conductive gadgets
  • C08L2203/204—Applications use in electrical or conductive gadgets use in solar cells
• • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
  • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
  • Y02E—REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
  • Y02E10/00—Energy generation through renewable energy sources
  • Y02E10/50—Photovoltaic [PV] energy

Definitions

• the disclosure is related to a blend elastomer-based electrically
• the solar cells have surface electrodes, to which the wiring members (also called electro-conductive interconnect members or ribbons) are connected for extracting power from the cells.
• the wiring members are usually in the form of metal strips (such as Cu strips) and they are often
• Such polymer-based electrically conductive adhesives typically are comprised of insulating polymers (such as, epoxy resins, acrylic polymers, phenoxy resins, polyimides, or silicone rubbers) and electro-conductive particles (such as Ag particles), see, for example, U.S. Patent Publication Nos. 2010/0147355 and 2012/0012153.
• insulating polymers such as, epoxy resins, acrylic polymers, phenoxy resins, polyimides, or silicone rubbers
• electro-conductive particles such as Ag particles
• the purpose of the present disclosure is to provide a solar cell module comprising at least one solar cell and at least one wiring member, wherein, the at least one solar cell has at least one surface electrode and the at least one wiring member is connected to the at least one surface electrode via an electrically conductive adhesive;
• the electrically conductive adhesive is formed of an adhesive composition comprising a polymer matrix and 40-90 wt% of conductive particles dispersed in the polymer matrix, with the wt% of all components comprised in the adhesive composition totaling to 100 wt%; and the polymer matrix comprises a blend of at least one ethylene/alkyl (meth)acrylate copolymer elastomer and at least one ethylene vinyl acetate copolymer at a weight ratio ranging from 10:90 to 70:30.
• the weight ratio of the at least one ethylene/alkyl (meth)acrylate copolymer elastomer and at least one ethylene vinyl acetate copolymer ranges from 15:85 to 70:30, or from 15:85 to 65:35.
• the at least one ethylene/alkyl (meth)acrylate copolymer elastomer comprises polymerized units of ethylene and 40-90 wt%, or preferably 50-80 wt%, or more preferably 50-75 wt% of polymerized units of at least one alkyl (meth)acrylate, based on the total weight of the ethylene/alkyl (meth)acrylate copolymer elastomer.
• the at least one ethylene/alkyl (meth)acrylate copolymer elastomer is selected from the group consisting of ethylene/methyl acrylate copolymers, ethylene/ethyl acrylate copolymers, ethylene/butyl acrylate copolymers, and combinations of two or more thereof.
• the at least one ethylene vinyl acetate copolymer comprises polymerized units of ethylene and 5- 50 wt%, or preferably 15-45 wt%, or more preferably 20-45 wt% of copolymerized units of vinyl acetates, based on the total weight of the ethylene vinyl acetate copolymer.
• the at least one ethylene/alkyl (meth)acrylate copolymer elastomer and/or the at least one ethylene vinyl acetate copolymer is cross-linked with a cross-linking agent.
• the conductive particles are selected from metal particles and non-metal particles.
• the conductive particles are metal particles, or preferably, the conductive particles are selected from the group consisting of particles of Au, Ag, Ni, Cu, Al, Sn, Zn, Ti, Sn, Bi, W, Pb, and alloys of two or more thereof, or more preferably the conductive particles are selected from particles of Cu, Ag, Ni, and alloys thereof, or yet more preferably, the conductive particles are Ag particles.
• 40-85 wt% or 45-83 wt% of the conductive particles are dispersed in the polymer matrix, based on the total weight of the adhesive composition.
• the at least one solar cell has a front surface electrode and a back surface electrode, and wherein there are one or more front wiring members connected to the front surface electrode via the electrically conductive adhesive and one or more back wiring members connected to the back surface electrode via the electrically conductive adhesive.
• the at least one solar cell is a wafer-based solar cell.
• the at least one solar cell is a thin film solar cell.
• the range includes any value that is within the two particular end points and any value that is equal to or about equal to any of the two end points.
• electrically conductive adhesive compositions that comprise a polymer matrix and about 40-90 wt% of conductive particles dispersed in the polymer matrix, with the wt% of all components comprised in the composition totaling to 100 wt%.
• the polymer matrix comprises or is formed of a blend elastomer of at least one ethylene/alkyl (meth)acrylate copolymer elastomer and at least one ethylene vinyl acetate copolymer (EVA) at a weight ratio of about 10:90 to about 70:30.
• Ethylene/alkyl (meth)acrylate copolymer elastomers are derived from copolymerization of polymerized units of ethylene and about 45-90 wt%, or about 50-80 wt%, or about 50-75 wt% of polymerized units of at least one alkyl (meth)acrylate, based on the total weight of the ethylene/alkyl (meth)acrylate copolymer elastomer.
• (meth)acrylate is used herein to refer to esters of methacrylic acids and/or esters of acrylic acids, and the term “meth” is used herein to refer to -H or branched or non-branched groups C1 -C10 alkyl, and the term “alkyl” is used herein to refer to -H or branched or non- branched groups of C1-C12 alkyl, C1-C20 alkoxyalkyl, C1 -C12 cyanoalkyl, or C1 -C12 fluoroalkyl.
• the alkyl (meth)acrylate groups used herein include, without limitation, alkyl acrylate, alkyl methacrylates, alkyl ethacrylates, alkyl
• the alkyl groups may be substituted with cyano groups or one or more fluorine atoms. That is, the alkyl group may be a C1 -C12 cyanoalkyl group or a C1 -C12 fluoroalkyl group.
• the ethylene/alkyl (meth)acrylate copolymers may also comprise copolymerized units of more than one species of the alkyl (meth)acrylates, for example two different alkyl acrylate monomers.
• the ethylene/alkyl (meth)acrylate copolymers used herein include, without limitation,
• EMA ethylene/methyl acrylate copolymers
• EAA ethylene/ethyl acrylate copolymers
• EBA ethylene/butyl acrylate copolymers
• the ethylene/alkyl (meth)acrylate copolymer elastomers used herein may optionally further comprise up to about 5 wt% of a functionalized comonomer, based on the total weight of the ethylene/alkyl (meth)acrylate copolymer elastomer.
• the optional functionalized comonomers used herein include, without limitation, (meth)acrylate glycidyl esters (such as glycidyl methacrylate), chlorovinyl ether, maleic acids, and other comonomers having one or more reactive groups including acid, hydroxyl, anhydride, epoxy, isocyanates, amine, oxazoline, chloroacetate, carboxylic ester moieties, or diene functionality.
• the ethylene/alkyl (meth)acrylate copolymer elastomers used herein are made by copolymerizing ethylene and more than one (e.g., two) alkyl (meth)acrylate monomers. Examples are ethylene/alkyl (meth)acrylate copolymer elastomers made by polymerizing ethylene, methyl acrylate, and a second acrylate (such as butyl acrylate).
• the ethylene/alkyl (meth)acrylate copolymer elastomers comprised in the blend elastomers also may be blends of two or more ethylene/alkyl (meth)acrylate copolymer elastomers.
• the ethylene/alkyl (meth)acrylate copolymer elastomers may be prepared by various processes well known in the polymer art. For example, the
• copolymerization can be run as a continuous process in an autoclave reactor.
• the ethylene/alkyl (meth)acrylate copolymers used herein may be produced at high pressure and elevated temperature in a tubular reactor or the like.
• the copolymer can be separated from the product mixture with the un- reacted monomers and solvent (if used) by conventional means, e.g., vaporizing the non-polymerized materials and solvent under reduced pressure and at an elevated temperature.
• ethylene/alkyl (meth)acrylate copolymer elastomers used herein are also available commercially.
• Exemplary ethylene/alkyl (meth)acrylate copolymer elastomers may include those available from E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company, U.S.A. (hereafter "DuPont") under the trade name Vamac ® .
• the ethylene/vinyl acetate copolymers (EVA) used here are derived from copolymerization of polymerized units of ethylene and about 5-50 wt%, or about 15-45 wt%, or about 20-45 wt% of copolymerized units of vinyl acetates, based on the total weight of the EVA.
• the ethylene vinyl acetate copolymers used herein may also comprise up to about 35 wt%, or up to about 25 wt%, or up to about 20 wt% of copolymerized units of one or more additional monomers.
• Such one or more additional comonomers may include, without limitation, (meth)acrylic acid, maleic anhydride, butyl acrylate, carbon monoxide, and combinations of two or more thereof.
• Suitable ethylene vinyl acetate copolymers also may be obtained commercially.
• Elvax ® EVA resins available from DuPont; EvataneTM EVA copolymers available from Arkerma, Inc. (France); EscoreneTM EVA resins available from Exxonmobil Chemical (U.S.A.); Evaflex ® EVA resins available from DuPont-Mitsui
• the weight ratio of the at least one ethylene/alkyl (meth)acrylate copolymer elastomer and the at least one ethylene vinyl acetate copolymer may range from about 10:90 to about 70:30, or 15:85 to about 70:30, or about 15:85 to about 65:35.
• ethylene/alkyl (meth)acrylate copolymer elastomers and/or the ethylene vinyl acetate copolymers comprised in the blend elastomers are cross- linked with cross-linking agents.
• the cross-linking agents used herein may be any suitable peroxide.
• peroxide refers to an organic compound that includes one or more peroxide, i.e., O--O, linkages. Suitable peroxides are disclosed, e.g., in Aldrich Catalogue of Fine Chemicals. Heating the peroxide causes it to generate radicals which react with the components of the composition to cause covalent cross-links in the mixture. By regulating the amounts and types of organic peroxide present in the composition, the relative rates of radical generation, abstraction, and cross-linking steps can be controlled.
• peroxide cross-linking agents that are suitable herein include, without limitation, methylethyl ketone peroxide; dicumyl peroxide; 2,5-d i methyl - 2,5-di(t-butylperoxy)hexane; 1 ,1 -bis(t-butylperoxy)-3,3,5-tr- imethylcyclohexane; 1 ,1 -di-(t-butylperoxy)cyclohexane; 2,2'-bis(t-butylperoxy)diisopropylbenzene; 4,4'- bis(t-butylperoxy)butyl valerate; ethyl 3,3-bis(t-butylperoxy)butyrate; t-butyl cumyl peroxide; di[(t-butylperoxy)-isopropyl]benzene; t-butyl peroxide; 6,6,9,9- tetramethyl-3-
• cross-linking agents used herein are also available commercially.
• exemplary cross-linking agents may include those available from AkzoNobel Corporate, the Netherlands, under the trade name PerkadoxTM; or from Arkerma, Inc. under the trade name LuperoxTM.
• Suitable dicumyl peroxide (DCP) cross- linking agents may be obtained from Shanghai Fangruida Chemical Co. Ltd, China or Hangzhou Hi-Tech Fine Chemical Co. Ltd. China.
• the polymer matrix may be present at a level of about 10-60 wt%, or about 15-60 wt%, or about 17-55 wt%, based on the total weight of the
• the conductive particles used herein provide electrical conductivity in the adhesive composition upon circuit connection.
• the conductive particles may include metal particles, non-metal particles, metal coated particles, and
• Suitable metal particles include, without limitation, particles of Au, Ag, Ni, Cu, Al, Sn, Zn, Ti, Sn, Bi, W, Pb, and alloys of two or more thereof.
• Suitable non-metal particles include, without limitation, carbon nanotube, graphene, polyaniline, polyacetylene, and polypyrrole, and combinations of two or more thereof.
• the metal coating material used in the metal coated particles may include, without limitation, Au, Ag, Ni, and combinations of two or more thereof.
• Suitable metal coated particles include, without limitation, Ag-coated glass beads, Ag-coated polystyrene particles, Ag-coated Cu particles, Ni-coated Cu particles, and combinations of two or more thereof. The size of the
• conductive particles may be determined depending on the pitch of circuits and may be, e.g., about 0.1 to about 50 ⁇ , depending on the intended application. Based on the total weight of the electrically conductive adhesive
• the conductive particles may be present at a level of about 40-90 wt%, or about 40-85 wt%, or about 45-83 wt%.
• the polymer matrix is formed of blend elastomer of at least one ethylene/alkyl (meth)acrylate copolymer elastomer and at least one ethylene vinyl acetate copolymer (EVA) at a weight ratio of about 10:90 to about 70-30 and the conductive particles are selected from particles of Cu, Ag, Ni, and alloys thereof. In a further embodiment of the electrically conductive adhesive composition disclosed herein, the conductive particles are selected from Ag particles.
• electrically conductive sheets or tapes formed of the electrically conductive adhesive compositions disclosed hereabove.
• solar cell modules that comprise one or more solar cells and the electrically conductive adhesives.
• the electrically conductive adhesives are included to electrically connect the surface electrodes of the solar cells with the wiring members (also called ribbons).
• the wiring members are included to electrically connect the solar cells in series and/or in parallel and to form conductive paths for extracting the electric power out from the modules.
• the solar cells used herein may be any article or material that can convert light into electrical energy.
• the solar cells used herein include, without limitation, wafer-based solar cells (e.g., c-Si or mc-Si based solar cells) and thin film solar cells (e.g., a-Si, c-Si, CdTe, copper indium selenide (CIS), copper-indium-gallium selenide (CIGS), light absorbing dyes, or organic
• the surface electrodes of the solar cells may be made of any suitable materials that can provide electrical conduction.
• the surface electrodes may be formed by printing (e.g., screen printing or ink-jet printing) conductive paste over the solar cell surfaces.
• suitable paste materials include, without limitation, silver paste, glass paste containing silver, gold paste, carbon past, nickel paste, aluminum paste, transparent conducting oxide (TCO) (such as indium tin oxide (ITO) or aluminum zinc oxide (AZO).
• the wiring members may be formed of any high conductive materials, such as copper, silver, aluminum, gold, nickel, cadmium, and alloys thereof.
• the surface electrodes of the solar cells may be in any suitable patterns and the connection between the surface electrodes and the wiring member may be in any suitable forms.
• each solar cell may comprise a front surface electrode and a back surface electrode, wherein the top surface electrode may be comprised of a plurality of parallel conductive fingers and two or more conductive bus bars perpendicular to and connecting the conductive fingers, and wherein the back surface electrode may be comprised of a layer conductive paste and two or more conductive bus bars.
• the conductive fingers and the conductive bus bars are formed of silver paste and the layer of conductive paste comprised in the back surface electrode may be formed of aluminum paste.
• the wiring members are connected to the front and back surface electrodes by adhering to the bus bars of the front and back electrodes via the electrically conductive adhesives disclosed herein.
• each of the solar cells comprises a front surface electrode that is formed of the plurality of conductive fingers only without bus bars and a back surface electrode that is formed of a layer of conductive paste and two or more conductive bus bars.
• the wiring members are connected to the front surface electrode by adhering to the conductive fingers via the electrically conductive adhesives and to the back surface electrode by adhering to the bus bars via the electrically conductive adhesives.
• each of the solar cells comprises a front surface electrode that is formed of the plurality of conductive finger and two or more bus bars and a back surface electrode that is formed of the conductive paste only without the bus bars.
• the wiring members are connected to the front surface electrode by adhering to the bus bars via the electrically conductive adhesives and to the back surface electrode by adhering to the conductive paste via the electrically conductive adhesives.
• each of the solar cells comprises a front surface electrode that is formed of the plurality of conductive fingers only without bus bars and a back surface electrode that is formed of the conductive paste only without the bus bars.
• the wiring members are connected to the front surface electrode by adhering to the conductive fingers via the electrically adhesives and to the back surface electrode by adhering to the conductive paste via the electrically conductive adhesives.
• the opposite surface electrodes are typically formed of transparent TCO layers or metal grids.
• the back surface electrodes may also be formed of metal films, such as Al, TiN, Zn, Mo, stainless steel).
• the wiring members may be connected to the electrodes by adhering to the electrodes via the electrically conductive adhesives.
• bus bars may be included and connected to each of the electrodes and the wiring members may be connected to the electrodes by adhering to the bus bars via the electrically conductive adhesives.
• any suitable process may be used when adhering the wiring member(s) to the surface electrode(s) via the blend elastomer-based electrically conductive adhesives.
• the process may include first preparing a pre-formed film or sheet of the blend elastomer-based electrically conductive composition and then laminating the wiring member(s) over the surface electrode(s) with the preformed electrically conductive film or sheet inbetween.
• the pre-formed electrically conductive film or sheet may be prepared by any suitable methods, such as casting, extrusion, calendaring, etc.
• the blend elastomer-based electrically conductive adhesives disclosed herein exhibit very much improved resistance to thermal cycling.
• EVA Ethylene Vinyl Acetate
• Ethylene/methyl acrylate copolymer (E/MA): an ethylene/acrylate
• copolymer comprising 62 wt% methyl acrylate and having a Mooney viscosity (ML1 +4, 100°C) of 22;
• Silane Coupling Agent 3-glycidoxypropyltriethoxysilane obtained from Shin-Etsu Chemical (Japan) under the trade name KBM403;
• Antioxidant (AO) 2',3-bis [[3-[3, 5-di-tert-butyl-4-hydroxyphenyl] propionyl]] propionohydrazide obtained from BASF (Germany) under the trade name
• ECA-1 AEM-based electrically conductive adhesive (with a final Ag
• concentration of 78 wt%) that was prepared as follows: (i) mixing 33 g of AEM with 0.4 g PO, 0.3 g SCA, and 0.12 g AO using a spatula and (ii) compounding 92 g Ag-1 and 25 g Ag-2 into the mixture from step (i) using a Brabender at 80°C for 10 minutes to obtain the electrically conductive adhesive;
• ECA-2 a blend elastomer-based (BE-based) electrically conductive adhesive (with a final Ag concentration of 78 wt%) that was prepared as follows: (i) mixing 24.75 g AEM and 8.25 g EVA with 0.4 g PO, 0.3 g SCA, and 0.12 g AO using a spatula and (ii) compounding 92 g Ag-1 and 25 g Ag-2 into the mixture from step (i) using a Brabender at 80°C for 10 minutes to obtain the electrically conductive adhesive;
• ECA-3 a blend elastomer-based (BE-based) electrically conductive adhesive (with a final Ag concentration of 78 wt%) that was prepared as follows: (i) mixing 8.25 g AEM and 24.75 g EVA with 0.4 g PO, 0.3 g SCA, and 0.12 g AO using a spatula and (ii) compounding 92 g Ag-1 and 25 g Ag-2 into the mixture from step (i) using a Brabender at 80°C for 10 minutes to obtain the electrically conductive adhesive;
• ECA-4 a blend elastomer-based (BE-based) electrically conductive adhesive (with a final Ag concentration of 78 wt%) that was prepared as follows: (i) mixing 16.5 g AEM and 16.5 g EVA with 0.4 g PO, 0.3 g SCA, and 0.12 g AO using a spatula and (ii) compounding 82 g Ag-1 and 35 g Ag-2 into the mixture from step (i) using a Brabender at 80°C for 10 minutes to obtain the electrically conductive adhesive;
• ECA-5 a blend elastomer-based (BE-based) electrically conductive adhesive (with a final Ag concentration of 78 wt%) that was prepared as follows: (i) mixing 16.5 g AEM and 16.5 g EVA with 0.4 g PO, 0.3 g SCA, and 0.12 g AO using a spatula and (ii) compounding 92 g Ag-1 and 25 g Ag-2 into the mixture from step (i) using a Brabender at 80°C for 10 minutes to obtain the electrically conductive adhesive;
• ECA-6 EVA-based electrically conductive adhesive (with a final Ag concentration of 78 wt%) that was prepared as follows: (i) mixing 33 g of EVA with 0.4 g PO, 0.3 g SCA, and 0.12 g AO using a spatula and (ii) compounding 92 g Ag-1 and 25 g Ag-2 into the mixture from step (i) using a Brabender at 80°C for 10 minutes to obtain the electrically conductive adhesive;
• c-Si Cell monocrystalline solar cell obtained from Motech (Suzhou) Renewable Energy Co., Ltd. (China) under the trade name XS125-165R 5", which had a dimension of 125x125 mm (+0.5 mm) and included a pair of 1 .6 mm wide silver bus bars and a pair of 2.8 mm wide silver/aluminum discontinuous soldering pads;
• EVA Sheet RevaxTM 767 ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) sheet (500 ⁇ thick) obtained from Wenzhou RuiYang Photovoltaic Material Co. Ltd. (China);
• TPT Backsheet AkasolTM PTL 3HR 1000V backsheet for
• a one-cell module was prepared as follows: (i) preparing ECA- coated Cu strips by first hot pressing (at 100°C) ECA-1 into a 50 ⁇ thick film and then laminating (at 100°C) the ECA film over a Cu foil (105 ⁇ thick ) followed by cutting into 2 mm wide strips; (ii) aligning two ECA-coated Cu strips over each of the two bus bars on the front side of the c-Si cell with the ECA-1 coating layer of the Cu strips in contact with the bus bars and aligning the other two ECA-coated Cu strips over each of the two soldering pads on the back side of the c-Si cell with the ECA-1 coating layer of the Cu strips in contact with the soldering pads; (iii) connecting the two front side Cu strips with a first Sn/Pd- coated Cu ribbon by soldering and connecting the two back side Cu strips with a second Sn/Pd-coated Cu ribbon by soldering; (iv) placing the c-S
• CE2 a one-cell module was prepared the same way as described in CE1 , with the exception that ECA-2 was used in place of ECA-1 .
• E1 a one-cell module was prepared the same way as described in CE1 , with the exception that ECA-3 was used in place of ECA-1 .
• E2 a one-cell module was prepared the same way as described in CE1 , with the exception that ECA-4 was used in place of ECA-1 .
• E3 a one-cell module was prepared the same way as described in CE1 , with the exception that ECA-5 was used in place of ECA-1 .
• CE3 a one-cell module was prepared the same way as described in CE1 , with the exception that ECA-6 was used in place of ECA-1 .
• the power output of the module as prepared (Pinitiai) and the power output of the module post 50, 100, 150, and 200 cycles of thermal cycling tests (PTC) were measured using Spi-Sun SimulatorTM 3500SLP (Spire Corporation (U.S.A.).
• the power loss (PL OSS ) post various cycles of thermal cycles was calculated as follows and tabulated in Table 1 :
• a one-cell module was prepared as follows: (i) preparing electrically conductive adhesive (ECA) strips (2 mm wide and 50 ⁇ thick) by hot pressing ECA-3 (at 100°C) over a release film followed by cutting; (ii) placing a c-Si cell front side up over a 100°C hot plate and maintaining the cell over the hot plate while covering the two bus bars on the front side of the c-Si cell with the ECA strips, removing release films from ECA strips, and aligning Cu strips (2 mm wide) over each of the ECA strips; (iii) flipping and maintaining the c-Si cell over the hot plate while covering the two soldering pads on the back side of the c-Si cell with ECA strips, removing release films from the ECA strips, and aligning Cu strips (2 mm wide) over each of the ECA strips; (iv) removing the cell from the hot plate and connecting the two front side Cu strips with a first Sn/Pd-coated Cu ribbon by soldering and

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