Laser Scribing of Photovoltaic Solar Thin Films: A Review
The development of thin-film photovoltaics has emerged as a promising solution to the global energy crisis within the field of solar cell technology. However, transitioning from laboratory scale to large-area solar cells requires precise and high-quality scribes to achieve the required voltage and r...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2023-05-01
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| Series: | Journal of Manufacturing and Materials Processing |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2504-4494/7/3/94 |
| _version_ | 1827736876361973760 |
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| author | Farzad Jamaatisomarin Ruqi Chen Sajed Hosseini-Zavareh Shuting Lei |
| author_facet | Farzad Jamaatisomarin Ruqi Chen Sajed Hosseini-Zavareh Shuting Lei |
| author_sort | Farzad Jamaatisomarin |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The development of thin-film photovoltaics has emerged as a promising solution to the global energy crisis within the field of solar cell technology. However, transitioning from laboratory scale to large-area solar cells requires precise and high-quality scribes to achieve the required voltage and reduce ohmic losses. Laser scribing has shown great potential in preserving efficiency by minimizing the drop in geometrical fill factor, resistive losses, and shunt formation. However, due to the laser induced photothermal effects, various defects can initiate and impact the quality of scribed grooves and weaken the module’s efficiency. In this regard, much research has been conducted to analyze the geometrical fill factor, surface integrity, and electrical performance of the laser scribes to reach higher power conversion efficiencies. This comprehensive review of laser scribing of photovoltaic solar thin films pivots on scribe quality and analyzes the critical factors and challenges affecting the efficiency and reliability of the scribing process. This review also covers the latest developments in using laser systems, parameters, and techniques for patterning various types of solar thin films to identify the optimized laser ablation condition. Furthermore, potential research directions for future investigations at improving the quality and performance of thin film laser scribing are suggested. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T02:17:16Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-50ac9a67053d46b6b4406ef870e63e3f |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2504-4494 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T02:17:16Z |
| publishDate | 2023-05-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Manufacturing and Materials Processing |
| spelling | doaj.art-50ac9a67053d46b6b4406ef870e63e3f2023-11-18T11:05:26ZengMDPI AGJournal of Manufacturing and Materials Processing2504-44942023-05-01739410.3390/jmmp7030094Laser Scribing of Photovoltaic Solar Thin Films: A ReviewFarzad Jamaatisomarin0Ruqi Chen1Sajed Hosseini-Zavareh2Shuting Lei3Department of Industrial and Manufacturing Systems Engineering, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS 66506, USADepartment of Industrial and Manufacturing Systems Engineering, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS 66506, USADepartment of Physics, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS 66506, USADepartment of Industrial and Manufacturing Systems Engineering, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS 66506, USAThe development of thin-film photovoltaics has emerged as a promising solution to the global energy crisis within the field of solar cell technology. However, transitioning from laboratory scale to large-area solar cells requires precise and high-quality scribes to achieve the required voltage and reduce ohmic losses. Laser scribing has shown great potential in preserving efficiency by minimizing the drop in geometrical fill factor, resistive losses, and shunt formation. However, due to the laser induced photothermal effects, various defects can initiate and impact the quality of scribed grooves and weaken the module’s efficiency. In this regard, much research has been conducted to analyze the geometrical fill factor, surface integrity, and electrical performance of the laser scribes to reach higher power conversion efficiencies. This comprehensive review of laser scribing of photovoltaic solar thin films pivots on scribe quality and analyzes the critical factors and challenges affecting the efficiency and reliability of the scribing process. This review also covers the latest developments in using laser systems, parameters, and techniques for patterning various types of solar thin films to identify the optimized laser ablation condition. Furthermore, potential research directions for future investigations at improving the quality and performance of thin film laser scribing are suggested.https://www.mdpi.com/2504-4494/7/3/94laser scribingthin film solar cellquality analysislaser scribing defectspower conversion efficiency |
| spellingShingle | Farzad Jamaatisomarin Ruqi Chen Sajed Hosseini-Zavareh Shuting Lei Laser Scribing of Photovoltaic Solar Thin Films: A Review Journal of Manufacturing and Materials Processing laser scribing thin film solar cell quality analysis laser scribing defects power conversion efficiency |
| title | Laser Scribing of Photovoltaic Solar Thin Films: A Review |
| title_full | Laser Scribing of Photovoltaic Solar Thin Films: A Review |
| title_fullStr | Laser Scribing of Photovoltaic Solar Thin Films: A Review |
| title_full_unstemmed | Laser Scribing of Photovoltaic Solar Thin Films: A Review |
| title_short | Laser Scribing of Photovoltaic Solar Thin Films: A Review |
| title_sort | laser scribing of photovoltaic solar thin films a review |
| topic | laser scribing thin film solar cell quality analysis laser scribing defects power conversion efficiency |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2504-4494/7/3/94 |
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