Externally Funded Projects

Process and equipment technology for cost- and resource-effective manufacturing of high-efficiency silicon heterojunction solar cells

It is the aim of the PATOS project to develop high-efficiency solar cells with efficiency rates of more than 22 % as an integrated concept. In particular, the focus is on reducing the production costs. For the use in the automotive sector, the look of the cells is of high importance. Therefore, the integration of solar modules into car roofs will be researched within this project as a practical application example.

Selective contact systems for high-efficiency silicon solar cells

It is the aim of the project to develop new charge-carrier selective contact systems based on PVD for silicon solar cells. Among the main fields of application for these contact systems will be the substitution of local point contacts with passivating back contacts that stretch across the whole surface and the development of transparent passivated contacts for the front side of solar cells and for tandem solar cells. The project focuses on increasing the efficiency compared to the PERC technology.

Another important aspect is the creation of the basic conceptual and engineering requirements for a successful implementation of selective contacts for the evolutionary development of PERC solar cells on the basis of economically suitable PVD technologies. The application of the developed technologies will be tested up to the integration into tandem cells.

Optimized Coatings for Permeation Barriers on Functional Films

Polymer films are used in many industries due to their low weight, low manufacturing costs and the fact that they can be easily processed using a roll-to-roll method (R2R).

It is the aim of this project to research the production of optimized permeation barrier layer systems for functional films consisting of electron beam crosslinked lacquer layers combined with layers created using PVD.

The polymer films are modified in order to adapt their properties even better to the respective applications. Several technologies are used to achieve that. Current technology combinations that are used to manufacture functional films with permeation barrier properties are based on the individual technologies, which are applied additively.

The projects focuses on fine-tuning the individual technologies according to their application. The aim is to develop a permeation barrier with optical and other properties that meet the requirements of the applications and that can be created at low costs.

Furthermore, the interplay of the single technologies on the machine level and beyond shall be examined during this project.

Bifacially contacted solar cells with innovative, carrier-selective contacts

The DISC project focuses on using the potential of silicon solar cells by means of carrier-selective contacts for bifacially contacted solar cells. Above all, the focus is on cost-optimized process steps with optional upgrades for existing coating lines and on an efficient use of material to reduce costs. Furthermore, leading institutions and experienced companies will work closely together in order to demonstrate cell efficiencies of >25.5 % and module efficiencies of >22 %.

Bifacially contacted solar cells with innovative, carrier-selective contacts

The DISC project focuses on using the potential of silicon solar cells by means of carrier-selective contacts for bifacially contacted solar cells. Above all, the focus is on cost-optimized process steps with optional upgrades for existing coating lines and on an efficient use of material to reduce costs. Furthermore, leading institutions and experienced companies will work closely together in order to demonstrate cell efficiencies of >25.5 % and module efficiencies of >22 %.

Bifacially contacted solar cells with innovative, carrier-selective contacts

The DISC project focuses on using the potential of silicon solar cells by means of carrier-selective contacts for bifacially contacted solar cells. Above all, the focus is on cost-optimized process steps with optional upgrades for existing coating lines and on an efficient use of material to reduce costs. Furthermore, leading institutions and experienced companies will work closely together in order to demonstrate cell efficiencies of >25.5 % and module efficiencies of >22 %.