Characteristics of silver–glass composite powders as the silver electrode for Si solar cells

Abstract

Abstract Silver–glass composite powders as the electrode material for application in Si solar cells, were directly prepared by spray pyrolysis. The Pb-based glass composition appropriate to the Si solar cell applications was applied. The composite powders prepared at temperatures between 1000 and 1200 °C had spherical shapes and pure silver crystal structures. The mean crystallite sizes of the composite powders prepared at temperatures of 900, 1000, 1100, and 1200 °C were 37, 40, 52, and 55 nm. The silver conducting films had dense structures irrespective of the preparation temperatures of the composite powders. The sheet resistances of the silver conducting films were changed from 2.9 to 5.3 mΩ/sq according to the preparation temperature of the silver–glass composite powders at a firing temperature of 700 °C.