Abstract: The present invention is directed to a thick film conductive composition comprising: (a) electrically conductive silver powder; (b) zinc-containing additive; (c) glass frit wherein said glass frit is lead-free; dispersed in (d) organic medium. The present invention is further directed to an electrode formed from the composition above wherein said composition has been fired to remove the organic vehicle and sinter said glass particles. Still further, the invention is directed to a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device from a structural element composed of a semiconductor having a p-n junction and an insulating film formed on a main surface of the semiconductor comprising the steps of (a) applying onto said insulating film the thick film composition detailed above; and (b) firing said semiconductor, insulating film and thick film composition to form an electrode.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to an electroconductive thick film paste composition comprising Ag and a Pb-free bismuth-tellurium-oxide both dispersed in an organic medium. The present invention is further directed to an electrode formed from the paste composition and a semiconductor device and, in particular, a solar cell comprising such an electrode. The present invention is also directed to the bismuth-tellurium oxide that is a component of thick film pastes.

Abstract: A conductive metal paste having no or only poor fire-through capability and including (a) particulate silver, (b) at least one lead-free glass frit including 0.5 to 15 wt. % SiO2, 0.3 to 10 wt. % Al2O3 and 67 to 75 wt. % Bi2O3, wherein the weight percentages are based on the total weight of the glass frit, and (c) an organic vehicle, wherein the content of the particulate silver in the conductive metal paste is 60 to 92 wt.-%, based on total conductive metal paste composition, and wherein the conductive metal paste is free from zinc oxide and compounds capable of generating zinc oxide on firing.

Abstract: An aluminum paste having no or only poor fire-through capability and comprising particulate aluminum, an organic vehicle and at least one glass frit selected from the group consisting of lead-free glass frits containing 0.5 to 15 wt. % SiO2, 0.3 to 10 wt. % Al2O3 and 67 to 75 wt. % Bi2O3, and the use of such aluminum paste in the manufacture of aluminum back anodes of PERC silicon solar cells.

Abstract: The present invention provides a thick-film paste for printing the front-side of a solar cell device having one or more insulating layers. The thick-film paste comprises an electrically conductive metal, and a lead-tellurium-oxide dispersed in an organic medium.

Abstract: A process of forming a front-grid electrode on a silicon wafer having an ARC layer, comprising the steps: (1) printing and drying a metal paste A comprising an inorganic content comprising 0.5 to 8 wt.-% of glass frit and having fire-through capability, wherein the metal paste A is printed on the ARC layer to form a bottom set of thin parallel finger lines, (2) printing and drying a metal paste B comprising an inorganic content comprising 0.2 to 3 wt.-% of glass frit over the bottom set of finger lines, wherein the metal paste B is printed in a grid pattern which comprises (i) thin parallel finger lines forming a top set of finger lines superimposing the bottom set of finger lines and (ii) busbars intersecting the finger lines at right angle, and (3) firing the double-printed silicon wafer, wherein the inorganic content of metal paste B contains less glass frit plus optionally present other inorganic additives than the inorganic content of metal paste A.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to an electroconductive thick film paste composition comprising Ag and a Pb-free bismuth-tellurium-oxide both dispersed in an organic medium. The present invention is further directed to an electrode formed from the paste composition and a semiconductor device and, in particular, a solar cell comprising such an electrode. The present invention is also directed to the bismuth-tellurium oxide that is a component of thick film pastes.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to an electroconductive thick film paste composition comprising Ag and a Pb-free bismuth-tellurium-oxide both dispersed in an organic medium. The present invention is further directed to an electrode formed from the paste composition and a semiconductor device and, in particular, a solar cell comprising such an electrode. The present invention is also directed to the bismuth-tellurium oxide that is a component of thick film pastes.

Abstract: A process for the production of a MWT silicon solar cell, wherein a conductive metal paste with no or only poor fire-through capability is applied, dried and fired to form a continuous metallization comprising a top set of conductive metal collector lines and a metallization of the inside of the holes of an n-type MWT silicon solar cell wafer, wherein the top set of conductive metal collector lines superimposes a bottom set of conductive metal collector lines on the front-side of the n-type MWT silicon solar cell wafer, said bottom set of conductive metal collector lines having no contact with the inside of the holes.

Abstract: A process for the production of a MWT silicon solar cell, wherein a conductive metal paste with no or only poor fire-through capability is applied, dried and fired to form a continuous metallization comprising a top set of conductive metal collector lines and a metallization of the inside of the holes of a p-type MWT silicon solar cell wafer, wherein the top set of conductive metal collector lines superimposes a bottom set of conductive metal collector lines on the front-side of the p-type MWT silicon solar cell wafer, said bottom set of conductive metal collector lines having no contact with the inside of the holes.

Abstract: A conductive paste composition contains a source of an electrically conductive metal, a lead-tellurium-based oxide, a discrete oxide of an adhesion promoting element, and an organic vehicle. An article such as a high-efficiency photovoltaic cell is formed by a process of deposition of the paste composition on a semiconductor substrate (e.g., by screen printing) and firing the paste to remove the organic vehicle and sinter the metal and lead-tellurium-based oxide.

Abstract: A process for the formation of an electrically conductive silver back electrode of a PERC silicon solar cell comprising the steps: (1) providing a p-type silicon wafer having on its front-side an n-type emitter with an ARC layer thereon and on its back-side a perforated dielectric passivation layer with local BSF contacts at the places of the perforations, (2) applying and drying a silver paste to form a silver back electrode pattern connecting the local BSF contacts on the back-side of the silicon wafer, and (3) firing the dried silver paste, whereby the wafer reaches a peak temperature of 700 to 900° C., wherein the silver paste has no or only poor fire-through capability and comprises particulate silver and an organic vehicle.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a thick film conductive composition comprising: (a) electrically conductive silver powder; (b) Zn-containing additive wherein the particle size of said zinc-containing additive is in the range of 7 nanometers to less than 100 nanometers; (c) glass frit wherein said glass frit has a softening point in the range of 300 to 600° C.; dispersed in (d) organic medium. The present invention is further directed to a semiconductor device and a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device from a structural element composed of a semiconductor having a p-n junction and an insulating film formed on a main surface of the semiconductor comprising the steps of (a) applying onto said insulating film the thick film composition as describe above; and (b) firing said semiconductor, insulating film and thick film composition to form an electrode.

Abstract: A conductive paste composition contains a source of an electrically conductive metal, a lead-tellurium-based oxide, and an organic vehicle. An article such as a high-efficiency photovoltaic cell is formed by a process of deposition of the lead-free paste composition on a semiconductor substrate (e.g., by screen printing) and firing the paste to remove the organic vehicle and sinter the metal and lead-tellurium-based oxide.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a thick film conductive composition comprising: (a) electrically conductive silver powder; (b) zinc-containing additive; (c) glass frit wherein said glass frit is lead-free; dispersed in (d) organic medium. The present invention is further directed to an electrode formed from the composition above wherein said composition has been fired to remove the organic vehicle and sinter said glass particles. Still further, the invention is directed to a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device from a structural element composed of a semiconductor having a p-n junction and an insulating film formed on a main surface of the semiconductor comprising the steps of (a) applying onto said insulating film the thick film composition detailed above; and (b) firing said semiconductor, insulating film and thick film composition to form an electrode.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to an electroconductive thick film paste composition comprising electrically conductive Ag, a second electrically conductive metal selected from the group consisting of Ni, Al and mixtures thereof and a lead-tellurium-lithium-titanium-oxide all dispersed in an organic medium. The present invention is further directed to an electrode formed from the thick film paste composition and a semiconductor device and, in particular, a solar cell comprising such an electrode.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to an electroconductive thick film paste composition comprising Ag and a lead-tellurium-lithium-titanium-oxide both dispersed in an organic medium. The present invention is further directed to an electrode formed from the paste composition and a semiconductor device and, in particular, a solar cell comprising such an electrode.

Abstract: A metal trap particle used for passivation of metals during FCC cracking comprises a calcined spray dried particle formed from kaolin, magnesium oxide or magnesium hydroxide and calcium carbonate. The metal trap particle contains at least 10 wt. % magnesium oxide which improves metals passivation during FCC cracking.

Abstract: A process of forming a front-grid electrode on a silicon wafer having an ARC layer wherein thin parallel fingers lines that form the front side grid electrode are double printed from a metal paste, and the metal pastes used for the first and second printing differ in their content of glass frit plus optionally present other inorganic additives.

Abstract: The invention relates to zinc-containing glass compositions useful in conductive pastes for silicon semiconductor devices and photovoltaic cells.