Synthesis and direct ink writing of silver ink for fabricating current collecting lines of dye sensitized solar cells

Subject Areas : journal of New Materials

Sajjad Keshavarz ¹ (M.Sc. graduated of Materials Science and Engineering, Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Shiraz University of Technology, Shiraz, Iran.)
Ali Mashreghi ² (Associate Professor of Materials Science and Engineering, Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Shiraz University of Technology, Shiraz, Iran.)

Received: 2023-05-14 Accepted : 2023-07-24 Published : 2022-10-23

Keywords: Solar Cell, Viscosity, Conductive silver ink, Direct ink writing, Current collecting lines,

Abstract :

Abstract Introduction: Conductive gridline is essential part of electronic devices. Direct ink writing is fast and simple method for gridline deposition. In this work, silver ink suitable for direct ink writing was synthesized. Thereafter, the effect of writing process parameters was investigated. Then, silver conductive lines were deposited on electrodes of the dye sensitized solar cell (DSSC) by direct ink writing and its role in increasing the efficiency of DSSC was investigated.     Methods: Silver ink was synthesized according to Lewis-Walker method. Silver acetate was dissolved in ammonium hydroxide and formic acid was added as reducing agent. The viscosity of ink was tuned by adding hydroxyethyl cellulose (HEC). Direct ink writing apparatus was built in our lab. Different ink writing process parameters were investigated. Photoanode and counter electrode of DSSC were fabricated on FTO substrates. Photoanode composed of N719 dye sensitized TiO₂ nanoparticles and counter electrode consisted of platinum thin film. The distance between electrodes was filled by electrolyte. Finally, silver lines were written on electrodes of DSSC to obtain conductive gridlines.     Findings: 2.3 wt% HEC gave the best result. It was found that nozzle-substrate distance has no influence on shape and electrical resistance. However, at higher distances printed lines became disconnected. Width and thickness of silver gridline increased with injection rate and value of 0.48 ml/min was optimum value. Sintering at 360 ˚C was proposed for following steps. By applying silver gridlines on DSSC, fill factor and power conversion efficiency (η) increased significantly. η increased from 1.5% to 2.8%.  

References:

1. Forrest, S.R., Organic electronics: Foundations to Applications, Oxford University Press, 2020.


2. Colniță, A., Marconi, D., Dina, N.E., Brezeștean, I., Bogdan, D. and Turcu, I. 2022. 3D silver metallized nanotrenches fabricated by nanoimprint lithography as flexible SERS detection platform, Spectrochimica Acta Part A: Molecular and Biomolecular Spectroscopy, 276: 121232.


3. Aleem, M., Vishnuraj, R., Krishnan, B., Ashok, A., and Pullithadathil, B. 2023. Narrow line width Ni‐Cu‐Sn front contact metallization patterns for low‐cost high‐efficiency crystalline silicon solar cells using nano‐imprint lithography, Energy Technolog, doi.org/10.1002/ente.202300090


4. Cosnahan, T., Watt, A.A.R. and Assender, H.E. 2018. Modelling of a vacuum metallization patterning method for organic electronics, Surface and Coatings Technology, 336: 128-132.


5. Wu, P.C., Lai, Y.C., Lee, P.I., Chiang, M.T., Chou, J., and Chuang, T.H. 2021. Sputtering of Ag (111) nanotwinned films on Si (100) wafers for backside metallization of power devices. Journal of Materials Science: Materials in Electronics, 32: 7319-7329.


6. Girolamo, D.D. and Dini, D. 2022. Electrodeposition as a versatile preparative tool for perovskite photovoltaics: aspects of metallization and selective contacts/active layer formation, RRL Solar, 6: 2100993 (1-10).


7. Kim, H., Kim, J.G., Park, J.W., and Chu, C.N. 2018. Selective copper metallization of nonconductive materials using jet-circulating electrodeposition, Precision Engineering, 51: 153-159.


8. Tsuji, K., Suzuki, S., Dhamrin, M., Adrian, A., Buck, T., and Usami, N. 2022. Fine line screen-printing aluminum for front side p+ metallization of high efficiency solar cells, AIP Conference Proceedings, 2487: 130014 (1-8).


9. Yüce, C., König, M., and Willenbacher, N. 2018. Rheology and screen-printing performance of model silver pastes for metallization of Si-solar cells, Coatings, 8: 406.


10. Walker, S.B. 2013. Synthesis and Patterning of Reactive Silver Inks, Doctoral dissertation, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.


11. Hon, K.K.B., Li, L. and Hutchings, I.M. 2008. Direct Writing Technology—Advances and Developments, CIRP Annals-Manufacturing Technology, 57: 601-620,


12. Sun, J. 2010. Micropen Direct-Write Technique for Fabrication of Advanced Electroceramic and Optical Materials, Doctoral dissertation, Rutgers University-Graduate School-New Brunswick.


13. سید احمد هاشم پور چشمه گل، علی مشرقی، بهینه سازی پارامترهای سنتز نانوسیمهای نقره به روش پلی ال، مجله مواد نوین/ جلد 13/شماره 45 /پاییز ١400، صفحه 21-32.


14. Walker, S.B. and Lewis, J. A. 2012. Reactive Silver Inks for Patterning High-Conductivity Features at Mild Temperatures, Journal of the American Chemical Society, 134, 1419-1421.


15. Walker, S.B. and Lewis, J.A. 2012. Ink Composition for Making A Conductive Silver Structure, U.S. Patent Application 14/368,202.


16. Richhariya, G., Meikap, B.C. and Kumar, A. 2022. Review on fabrication methodologies and its impacts on performance of dye-sensitized solar cells, Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 29: 15233–15251.