Photovoltaic (solar) cell industry

Solar panels

Environmental and political reasons are driving many countries to lower their fossil fuel (e.g. coal and fuel oil) consumption, and develop alternative fuel and energy sources. There has been a significant increase in demand for equipment capable of converting renewable sources of energy (wind, wave, solar power) into “utilisable” energy. Solar (photovoltaic) cell technology is advancing rapidly, and many types of solar panels have already been introduced onto the market. Development continues at a fast pace.

Climate change, ozone depletion and the predicted shortage of coal and petroleum-based fuels are high priority items requiring many countries to review their energy sources and usage. To meet environmental targets, most countries have to increase their production and use of “green” energy, and are using incentive schemes to promote the development of alternative energy using sources such as wind, wave and solar power.

Because of its efficiency and reasonable cost-effectiveness, solar power is the fastest growing alternative energy segment, with many countries around the world producing solar cells

Oxford Instruments’ X-Strata980 benchtop coating thickness and composition XRF analyser is a cost effective solution for the process and quality control of thin-film photovoltaic cells. Contact us today to discuss your requirement in more detail.

• Effective QC of solar panels with X-Strata980 
• Rapid, simple, high performance quality control 
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Effective and efficient quality control is increasingly vital to ensure increased yield and production output. The most popular solar panels are based on crystalline silicon cells or a thin film cell based on Cadmium Telluride. The solar modules are manufactured by depositing the photoactive layer along with other necessary layers onto the semiconducting material substrate. CIGS (CuInGaSe) and CIS (CuInSe) are the common photoactive polycrystalline layers containing specific amounts of Copper, Indium, Gallium, and Selenium, which need to be controlled in a tight range to ensure adequate efficiency of the product. This is where high quality and accurate XRF analysis can provide the solution.

 

X-Strata 980 is a cost-effective solution for the process and quality control of thin-film photovoltaic cells. It is a high performance, micro-spot, bench-top energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence spectrometer for the determination of multi-layer coating thickness and composition analysis on small analysis areas. It conforms to test methods ISO 3497, ASTM B568 and DIN 50987.

The system has as its source of excitation a field-proven, 100-watt, Oxford Instruments micro-focus X-ray tube, and is fitted with a high-performance, peltier-cooled Si-PIN-diode detector. This combination provides outstanding precision and low limits of detection, even at short measurement times. Coating thickness and composition results are obtained within seconds.

There is no sample preparation required. It is simply a question of placing the sample in the X-Strata's large analysis chamber, use the focus laser to achieve the correct focal distance, and click on the 'Go' button to start the measurement.

It enables rapid analysis of layer thickness and composition of the cells and can be part of a pass/fail decision process, ensuring that produced parts meet specification, thereby providing the required efficiency of conversion of solar energy into electricity.

The X-Strata980’s simple user interface ensures that it can be operated by any staff, in a lab as well as along the manufacturing line.