Abstract: The invention provides a method of preparing a metallization structure on a solar cell. The method includes patterning a first composition on a surface of a semiconductor substrate; and applying a second composition over the first composition. An area covered by the first composition is 5-95% of an area covered by the second composition. The semiconductor substrate is then subjected to firing conditions. The invention also provides a metallization structure formed using the method described herein.

Abstract: The invention provides an electroconductive paste comprising metallic particles, an inorganic reaction system, and an organic vehicle. The inorganic reaction system includes a lead-tellurium-magnesium composition of Formula (II): Pba—Teb—(Mgw—Cax—Sry—Baz)-Md-Oe, wherein 0<a, b, or d?1, 0?w, x, y, z?1, w+x+y+z=c, at least one of w, x, y and z is greater than zero, the sum of a, b, c and d is 1, 0<c?0.2, 0?d?0.5, a:b is between about 10:90 and about 90:10, (a+c+d):b is between about 10:90 and about 90:10, M is one or more elements, and e is a number sufficient to balance the Pb, Te, Mg—Ca—Sr—Ba and M components.

Abstract: An organic vehicle used in the manufacture of electroconductive silver paste. The organic vehicle comprises an organic binder, a surfactant, and an organic solvent. The preferred embodiment of the invention utilizes at least one of PVP, PMMA, or PVB as the organic binder, allowing for high compatibility with the metallic particles and resulting in an electroconductive paste with low viscosity for fine line printability. Another aspect of the invention relates to an electroconductive paste composition. The preferred embodiment utilizes metallic particles, glass frit, and an organic vehicle comprising a binder, namely at least one of PVP, PMMA, or PVB, a surfactant, and an organic solvent.

Abstract: An inorganic reaction system comprising a lead-bismuth-tellurium-silicate composition of Formula (I): Pba—Bib—Tec—Sig-Md-Oe, wherein 0<a, b, c, d, or g?1, 0?d, e?1, and the sum of a, b, c, d and g is 1, 0<a?0.05, 0.2<b?0.95, 0<c?0.5, 0<d?0.2, 0<g?0.5, a:b is between about 0.1:99.9 to about 5:95, b:c is between about 50:50 to 99:1, a:c is between about 1:99 to about 10:90, b:g is between about 50:50 to about 98:2, M is one or more elements, and e is a number sufficient to balance the Pb, Bi, Te, Si, and M components.

Abstract: The invention provides an electroconductive paste comprising metallic particles, an inorganic reaction system, and an organic vehicle. The inorganic reaction system comprises a lead-tellurium-magnesium-zinc composition of Formula (III): Pba—Teb13 (Mgw—Cax—Sry—Baz)—Znf-Md-Oe, wherein 0<a, b, d, or f?1, 0?w, x, y, z?1, w+x+y+z=c, at least one of w, x, y, and z is greater than zero, the sum of a, b, c, d and f is 1, 0<c?0.2, 0<f?0.2, 0?d?0.5, a:b is between about 10:90 and about 90:10, (a+c+f+d):b is between about 10:90 and about 90:10, M is one or more elements, and e is a number sufficient to balance the Pb, Te, Mg—Ca—Sr—Ba, Zn, and M components.

Abstract: The invention provides an electroconductive paste comprising metallic particles, an inorganic reaction system, and an organic vehicle. The inorganic reaction system includes a lead-tellurium-magnesium composition of Formula (II): Pba—Teb—(Mgw—Cax—Sry—Baz)-Md-Oe, wherein 0<a, b, or d?1, 0?w, x, y, z?1, w+x+y+z=c, at least one of w, x, y and z is greater than zero, the sum of a, b, c and d is 1, 0<c?0.2, 0?d?0.5, a:b is between about 10:90 and about 90:10, (a+c+d):b is between about 10:90 and about 90:10, M is one or more elements, and e is a number sufficient to balance the Pb, Te, Mg—Ca—Sr—Ba and M components.

Abstract: The invention provides an inorganic reaction system for the preparation of electroconductive paste. Particularly, an inorganic reaction system comprises conductive glass. The inorganic reaction system may comprise a silver containing matrix forming composition. The silver containing matrix composition may comprise at least one of silver oxide or silver halide, or both. The invention also provides solar cells manufactured utilizing an electroconductive paste comprising an inorganic reaction system comprising conductive glass, and methods of manufacturing solar cells utilizing an electroconductive paste comprising an inorganic reaction system comprising conductive glass.

Abstract: An inorganic oxide particle having an organic coating is provided. The invention also provides a process for preparing an organic coated inorganic oxide particle comprising forming an organic coating on the inorganic oxide particle. Specifically, a process for preparing an organic coated inorganic oxide particle, comprising obtaining a mixture of at least one inorganic oxide particle and at least one coating agent in at least one solvent, agitating the mixture, and removing the solvent is provided. The invention also provides an inorganic oxide particle prepared by the claimed processes, as well as the use of the inorganic oxide particle in a composition. A composition comprising the inorganic oxide particles of the invention, such as an electroconductive composition comprising the inorganic oxide particles, conductive metallic particles, and an organic vehicle is also provided.

Abstract: An inorganic reaction system comprising a lead-tellurium-zinc composition of Formula (I): Pba—Teb—Znf-Md-Oe, wherein 0<a, b, d, or f?1, the sum of a, b, d and f is 1, 0?d?0.5, 0<f?0.2, a:b is between about 10:90 and about 90:10, (a+f+d):b is between about 10:90 and about 90:10, M is one or more elements, and e is a number sufficient to balance the Pb, Te, Zn, and M components.

Abstract: An inorganic reaction system comprising a lead-bismuth-tellurium-silicate composition of Formula (I): Pba—Bib—Tec—Sig—Md—Oe, wherein 0<a, b, c, d, or g?1, 0?d, e?1, and the sum of a, b, c, d and g is 1, 0<a?0.05, 0.2<b?0.95, 0<c?0.5, 0<d?0.2, 0<g?0.5, a:b is between about 0.1:99.9 to about 5:95, b:c is between about 50:50 to 99:1, a:c is between about 1:99 to about 10:90, b:g is between about 50:50 to about 98:2, M is one or more elements, and e is a number sufficient to balance the Pb, Bi, Te, Si, and M components.

Abstract: An inorganic reaction system comprising a lead-bismuth-tellurium composition of Formula (I): Pba—Bib—Tec-Md-Oe, wherein 0<a, b, c and d?1, a+b+c+d=1, 0?d<0.5, a:b is between about 5:95 and about 95:5, a:c is between about 10:90 and about 90:10, b:c is between about 5:95 and about 95:5, (a+b):c is between about 10:90 and about 90:10, e is a number sufficient to balance the Pb, Bi, Te, and M components, and M is one or more additional elements.

Abstract: The invention relates to an inorganic reaction system used in the manufacture of electroconductive pastes. The inorganic reaction system comprises a lead containing composition and elemental tellurium, where in the lead containing composition is between 5-95 wt. % of the inorganic reaction system, and the elemental tellurium is between 5-95 wt. % of the inorganic reaction system. More preferably, the lead containing composition is between 40-90 wt. % of the inorganic reaction system, and the elemental tellurium is between 10-40 wt. % of the inorganic reaction system. The lead containing composition can be a glass frit and can further comprise lead oxide. Another aspect of the invention relates to an electroconductive paste composition that comprises metallic particles, an inorganic reaction system as disclosed, and an organic vehicle. Another aspect of the invention relates to an organic vehicle that comprises a binder, a surfactant, a solvent, and a thixatropic agent.

Abstract: The invention relates to an inorganic reaction system used in the manufacture of electroconductive pastes. The inorganic reaction system comprises a lead containing composition and elemental tellurium, where in the lead containing composition is between 5-95 wt. % of the inorganic reaction system, and the elemental tellurium is between 5-95 wt. % of the inorganic reaction system. More preferably, the lead containing composition is between 40-90 wt. % of the inorganic reaction system, and the elemental tellurium is between 10-40 wt. % of the inorganic reaction system. The lead containing composition can be a glass frit and can further comprise lead oxide. Another aspect of the invention relates to an electroconductive paste composition that comprises metallic particles, an inorganic reaction system as disclosed, and an organic vehicle. Another aspect of the invention relates to an organic vehicle that comprises a binder, a surfactant, a solvent, and a thixatropic agent.