ApplicAtions news


For the latest applications news from the photonics industry go to www.electrooptics.com/applications


Edge deletion on a photovoltaic solar cell using an ultra-short pulse laser


Trumpf has revealed that its new TruMicro series of ultra-short pulse lasers has been used successfully in photovoltaic cell manufacturing, lowering the manufacturing costs of components and enhancing their performance. The precise and fine-surface structures that the laser can produce results in a highly efficient photovoltaic cell, which can be produced more cost-effectively than possible by alternative processes. In the production of solar


modules from amorphous silicon (aSi) or cadmium telluride (CdTe), conductive and photoactive films are deposited on large substrate areas such as glass. After every deposition, the laser subdivides the surface so that the cells created are automatically switched in series by the process sequence. In this way, cell and module voltages, depending on the cell width, can be set. The transparent conductive


oxides are usually processed with lasers in the infrared wavelength. At typical production line feed


cracking, melting and exfoliation of the layers. Trumpf Series 5000 picosecond lasers are ideal for this task. They have a wavelength of 1,030nm for structuring molybdenum and 515nm for processing photoactive material and patterning the front of the contact. Additionally, these Trumpf TruMicro picosecond lasers have output power up to 50W, which significantly reduces process costs. To protect thin-film solar


Edge deletion on a photovoltaic solar cell using a truMicro ultra-short pulse laser


rates, repetition rates of more than 100kHz are required. An optimised pulse-to-pulse overlap makes for a clean kerf and minimises negative heat effects. The small and compact


Trumpf TruMicro 3000 with wavelengths of 1,064 and 532nm are ideal for P1, P2 and P3 patterning. Thanks to their high pulse-to-pulse stability, these diode-pumped solid-state lasers achieve very good processing results. They can also be easily integrated into existing systems


custom optical filters for avionics applications


Precision Glass & Optics (PG&O) has developed a range of custom optical filters for PRP Optoelectronics (Towcester, UK), an independent manufacturer of LED-based displays. PG&O has provided precision narrow- cone-angle optical filters for


PRP’s custom avionics displays. The specialised thin-film


filters designed by PG&O have been integrated into PRP Optoelectronics’ avionics displays to modify the viewing angle and eliminate unwanted stray light that would otherwise


distract the pilot and cockpit crew. The new optical coatings’ operational wavelengths and angle requirements are customised for sensitivity to night time lighting. The precision thin-film filters make it easier for the pilot to read the


8


altimeter and other displays in all lighting conditions, even at night.


This advanced technology


resolves what has formerly been a very serious challenge in military and commercial cockpit display and lighting ergonomics.


because of their advanced cooling design. The patterning of thin-film cells made from Cu (In, Ga) (S,Se )2


, also known


as CI(G)S (pronounced ‘cigs’), is particularly difficult using a laser, as is the processing of molybdenum – an application in which nanosecond lasers are still used, but picosecond lasers will, Trumpf says, offer a better solution. Picosecond sources are able to ablate material without significant heating of the process edge zone, which prevents


modules against unfavourable environmental influences – especially against moisture – a width of approximately 10mm of the layer system is ablated along the edge and covered with laminated film. The traditional method employed is sandblasting but Trumpf TruMicro lasers provide a far more suitable process. The TruMicro 7050 is recommended for this application which can process large areas at production speed, reliably and securely. It generates pulses with 30ns duration at an average power of 750W.


ElEctro optics l MARCH 2011


www.electrooptics.com


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