engineering the solar age - Suppliers for Photovoltaics

Laser processing for solar production

Crystalline photovoltaics

In early 2010, the product portfolio was extended to laser processes for crystalline silicon solar cells. While laser applications are already standard for structuring thin-film PV glass panels, they are not yet widely established in silicon-wafer-based cell manufacturing, which still represents more than 80% of the photovoltaic market.

Jenoptik has evaluated all relevant laser processes (hole drilling), selective emitter doping, laser ablation of dielectric layers, laser edge isolation, laser fired contacts and cutting (thermal laser separation).

Due to the existing in-house value-added chain (laser sources, optics, machines and application laboratories) we can offer a most flexible platform, meeting all technologies to improve the efficiency of crystalline solar cells.

The JENOPTIK-VOTAN™ Solas is adapted to fulfill all requirements from an R&D system with a throughput of some 1,000 wafers per day to an entirely automated production solution with more than 3,600 wafers per hour. Besides integration into new production lines, these machines are able to upgrade existing factories. The easy-to-service transport belt concept is adaptable to all customers’ wafer transportation concepts. Free selectable options and modular design enable maximum flexibility for customers.

Thin-film photovoltaics

For over five years, Jenoptik’s Lasers & Material Processing division has successfully manufactured full-scale production facilities for structuring and laser edge deletion (LED) of thin-film solar modules.

The quest for increased production efficiencies has also created a growing demand for standardized pilot and production machines.

For that purpose, Jenoptik’s engineers have developed the JENOPTIK-VOTAN™ Solas Multi. The new Solas Multi is revolutionary as it covers a wide range of substrates from 300 mm up to 1600 mm.

Thin-film cell makers need various technologies. For example, some laser processes are best done “through-the-glass” (bottom-side) while others are best done from the “layer-side” (top-side). The choice of laser and beam profile also varies by application. In order to satisfy these individual needs, the JENOPTIK-VOTAN™ Solas Multi is available with a wide range of laser sources. Furthermore, the customer can choose a Top-Hat or Gaussian beam profile and top or bottom side processing. Jenoptik’s Smart-Laser-Head technology uses focus-tracking to accommodate wavy substrates.

All of the factors above can be “user-specified” on the JENOPTIK-VOTAN™ Solas Multi to create the perfect tool for each cell-producer.