Preparation and post-treatment of silver powders for front contact pastes of silicon solar cells

Abstract Corrugated-surface silver powders were prepared for front contact pastes of silicon solar cells. The effects of using different pH controlling agents on the powder diameter, morphology, and conversion of silver ions to silver powders were investigated. Silver powders with wrinkled surface and 100% conversion were prepared, and ground by using spiral jet milling and tumbling ball milling, respectively. Silver powders ground by using spiral jet milling had better size distribution, higher tap density, and corrugated surface, the tap density of silver powders ground by using spiral jet milling was 6.52 g cm –3 . The silver powders were used to prepare front contact pastes of silicon solar cells, the aspect ratio of printed gridlines was 0.34.