Memorias de investigación
Communications at congresses:
Modelling of Laser Ablation Processes for Applications in Thin Film Photovoltaic Technology
Year:2008

Research Areas
  • Mechanical engineering,
  • Magnetic materials

Information
Abstract
The fabrication of thin-film photovoltaic modules involves the use of laser ablation processes to carry out both the division of the module into individual cells and the serial connexion between them. Despite its wide industrial application, there is still room for improvement regarding the laser parameters that lead to optimal devices. Numerical simulation of the ablation process constitutes a powerful tool, not only to understand the physical process itself, but also for the prediction of possible changes that could negatively affect the treated material. The two-temperature model for thermal diffusion was numerically solved in this paper. Laser pulses of 1064 nm, 532 nm or 248 nm with duration of 35 ns, 26 ns or 10 ns were considered as the thermal source leading to the material ablation. The materials analyzed in the simulation were aluminium (Al) and silver (Ag), which are commonly used as metallic electrodes in thin-film photovoltaic modules. Moreover, thermal diffusion was also simulated for crystalline silicon (c-Si) as a first approximation to the study of amorphous silicon (a-Si) ablation, this material being used in silicon thin-film photovoltaic technology as the photosensitive one. For each material, the ablation depth dependence on laser pulse parameters (wavelength, pulse duration and fluence) was determined by means of an ablation criterion. Thus, after the laser pulse, the maximum depth for which the total energy stored in the material is equal to the vaporization enthalpy was considered as the ablation depth. Finally, the experimental validation of the simulation results was carried out and the ability of the model to closely fit experimental results was confirmed.
International
Si
Congress
23RD EUROPEAN PHOTOVOLTAIC SOLAR ENERGY CONFERENCE
960
Place
VALENCIA
Reviewers
Si
ISBN/ISSN
3-936338-24-8
Start Date
01/09/2008
End Date
05/09/2008
From page
2360
To page
2366
23rd European Photovoltaic Solar Energy Conference
Participants

Research Group, Departaments and Institutes related
  • Creador: Grupo de Investigación: Ingeniería y Aplicaciones del Láser
  • Centro o Instituto I+D+i: Centro Laser
  • Departamento: Física Aplicada a la Ingeniería Industrial
  • Departamento: Automática, Ingeniería Electrónica e Informática Industrial