Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems (ISE) has introduced a new solar cell processing system for large format solar cells, read M12 and G12, that can laser half a million contact openings per second and has an effective throughput of over 15,000 solar wafers an hour, ensuring high efficiency.
This, it says, is significantly higher than the current industry standard of 7,000 per hour.
Fraunhofer ISE's project partner MOEWE Optical Solutions GmbH has provided its polygon scan technology for the system. Its high-speed mirror wheel moves the laser beam over the sample at over 3,000 kms per hour. This wheel moves the laser beam faster than the galvanometer scanners commonly used today, the team added.
"To tap the potential of ultrafast scanners and lasers, we developed sensor technology designed specifically for the new system in order to achieve the required positioning accuracy despite the high speed," shared Team Leader of Laser System Development at Fraunhofer ISE, Dr. Fabian Meyer.
With the system supporting processing of solar cells at high speed under the laser scanner, the team says this 'groundbreaking development' helps improve productivity and reduces solar cell production costs, without compromising structure size or processing area.