Fast and easy single step module assembly for back-contacted c-Si solar cells with conductive adhesives

The simplest way to produce a module of crystalline silicon solar cells is with back-contacted cells that are glued on an interconnection foil using conductive adhesives. This foil also serves as environmental barrier at the rear of the module. The conductive adhesive is tuned to cure in the same cycle as the encapsulant. It is possible to interconnect the cells without any additional temperature curing in a single lamination step. The interconnection foil can be made for an acceptable cost price, as is shown in the paper. The savings in labor, a higher efficiency, and a yield increase will lead to a lower cost price for such a module. First results show that a module produced in a single step leads to similar fill factors as soldered modules.