3D-Micromac (Chemnitz, Germany), which supplies laser micromachining systems, has received an order for three of its microCELL OTF laser systems from solar cell maker REC Group (Singapore). The systems will be installed at REC Group's production facility in Singapore to support production volume expansion of the company's high-efficiency passivated emitter rear contact (PERC) solar cells, as well as support the development of next-generation PERC solar cells.
PERC solar cells have the potential to deliver significantly higher levels of energy efficiency and production compared to standard solar cells. A critical step in the PERC solar cell manufacturing process is laser contact opening (LCO), which involves using a laser to create tiny pockets in the passivation film layer that is applied to the rear surface of the silicon wafer to allow more light to be absorbed by the solar cell.
3D-Micromac's system addresses this with a high-productivity and low cost-of-ownership solution for mono- and polycrystalline silicon solar cells. The system offers "on-the-fly" laser processing, uptime up to 97%, and throughputs of up to 4000 wafers/hour with no laser damage to underlying silicon lasers. Contactless wafer handling enables processing without surface defects and microcracks, allowing maximum yields.
For more information, please visit www.3d-micromac.com.