Wet Processing System for Solar Cell Manufacturing

Solar cell manufacturing facilities and research labs use wet processing equipment to etch and clean solar cell silicon wafers. Removal of wafer saw damage, silicon wafer texturing, chemical polishing and cleaning of the wafers with reliable and safe wet processing systems is an important factor to increase productivity and high quality output.

Modutek offers the latest wet bench and ozone cleaning technology to meet client requirements, whether they want to purchase standard systems or customized solutions. Modutek provides wet processing systems and equipment to a number of manufactuers in the solar cell industry.

Silicon Wafer Saw Damage Removal
When solar cell silicon wafers are cut they the surface will be damaged with an uneven crystal structure and damaged crystal lattice. These wafers are soaked in an etching bath that lifts a thin layer of damaged crystal, leaving a smooth uniform surface. Modutek’s wet processing equipment provides high throughput and accurate controls for this process.

Silicon Wafer Texturing
Solar cell silicon wafers absorb light and convert it into electricity more effectively when their front surface is etched with a microscopic texture.

For monocrystalline silicon, an etching bath lifts small pyramid shapes from the silicon's surface, which leaves a smooth, even consistent texture. Multi-crystal silicon, on the other hand, can be etched in the same manner, but the result is not as smooth because of crystal's different orientation. Available alternative solutions include ion-etching and masks.

Chemical Polishing
After the front, the rear side and the edges of the cell are polished by placing it in an etching bath. Polishing them improves the internal light reflection.

Ozone Pre-Cleaning
The cutting of silicon wafers with a wire saw uses a slurry applied to the wires, leaving the wafers contaminated with the slurry. To clean them, Modutek's Ozone Cleaning Process uses ozone dissolved in a mild solution. This cleaning process yields efficient cleaning at a lower cost.

Modutek’s wet Processing System is an ideal solution for solar cell manufacturers. Discover how Modutek can assist your company by reading our complete article titled “Wet Processing System for Solar Cell Manufacturing. Contact Modutek for a free quote or consultation to discuss which equipment to use for your application.