Application of inkjet printing technology in solar cell fabrication

Abstract

With the increasing energy demand and consumption, the development and utilization of new energy have drawn much attention. Solar cell is a device which can convert sunlight energy into electricity by the photovoltaic effect, and solar cell has become a popular research project. Various printing techniques have been adopted in the fabrication of solar cell. Due to the unique advantages such as high material utilization rate, low cost, flexible, noncontact process and digital patterning, inkjet printing is believed to be the next generation solar cell manufacturing technology. The structure of solar cell and the recent progress in the application of inkjet printing technology in solar cell fabrication is reviewed. Detailed introductions to the application in metal electrode, transparent conductors and absorber layer of solar cell are presented. The potential and promising trends of inkjet printing technology in solar cell fabrication are also proposed. Inkjet printing technology will be an extremely important tool in solar cell fabrication in the near future.