Silicon-Film(TM) Solar Cells by a Flexible Manufacturing System

摘要

This report describes the overall goal to engineer and develop flexible manufacturing methods and equipment to process Silicon-Film. solar cells and modules. Three major thrusts of this three-year effort were to: develop a new larger-area (208 mm x 208 mm) Silicon-Film. solar cell, the APx-8; construct and operate a new high- throughput wafer-making system; and develop a 15-MW single-thread manufacturing process. Specific technical accomplishments from this period are: Increase solar cell area by 80%, increase the generation capacity of a Silicon-Film wafer-making system by 350%, use a new in-line HF etch system in solar cell production, design and develop an in-line NaOH etch system, eliminate cassettes in solar cell processing, and design a new family of module products.