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 electroconductive paste composition, particularly for solar cells, contains silver particles, glass frit, an organic vehicle, and a nanoparticle additive. The additive contains electrically conductive metal, metal alloy, and/or metal silicide nanoparticles, such as nickel, chromium, cobalt, titanium, or alloys, silicides, and mixtures thereof. When used to form an electrical contact on a solar cell, such a paste provides for decreased contact resistance between the paste and the substrate and improved efficiency of the solar cell.