Plug and Play Copper Pastes
BERT THIN FILMS
Plug and Play Copper Pastes
ABOUT OUR TECHNOLOGY
Revolutionizing the Solar Industry
The team at Bert Thin Films believes that solar energy should be affordable for everyone.
Challenge
A solar cell includes a metal pattern to collect and conduct the electricity generated from the silicon. This metal is silver, which is expensive and in high demand.
The silver is printed using simple screen printing processes and fired in high speed belt furnaces, processes that have been implemented for decades.
Others have attempted to replace the silver conductor with copper, which is far more abundant and less expensive, but their solutions have required introducing additional steps to the manufacturing processes and thus added expenses that offset the benefits of their copper paste.
Bert Thin Film's Solution
The team at Bert Thin Films has invented and patented a unique copper paste, CuBert™, which is used as a direct substitute for the silver paste in the manufacturing process.
CuBert™ is printed and fired in the same manner as the silver paste; using the same screen-printing equipment and belt furnaces in use today by solar panel manufacturers.
CuBert™ is a direct plug-and-play replacement for the silver paste in the existing manufacturing process, so the cost benefits of the copper conductor can be fully and immediately realized by the manufacturers. And there is plenty to supply the expected industry growth.
COPPER
FORMULATING
COPPER PASTE
Far cheaper than silver
Same methods as silver pastes
Simple plug and play
Front Side Copper Metallization Paste
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Screen printable using industry standard screens and printers
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Fired in air using industry standard belt furnaces
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Does not require an inert atmosphere
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Demonstrated on several architectures
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Can be formulated for specific design
CuBert™ is a lower cost paste requiring no process changes
BERT THIN FILMS TEAM
NEWS
IEEE
PVSC
CONFERENCE
2024 June
Bert Thin Films attended the IEEE Photovoltaics Specialists Conference in Seattle, WA and presented a poster titled “High Temperature Copper Metallization: Demand, Hurdles and Reliability.”
In this study, a low-cost alternative to silver metallization pastes has been shown on...
PHOTOVOLTAIC
RELIABILITY
WORKSHOP
2024 February
Bert Thin Films presented results of their copper-based pastes in a poster titled “Durability of Copper Printed Contacts for Silicon Solar Cells” in Lakewood, Colorado.
This poster discussed the durability of silicon solar cells with a screen-printed copper paste that has fired...
LEADERSHIP
TEAM
EXPANDS
2024 February
Bert Thin Films continues to grow under the leadership of Thad Druffel and Ruvini Dharmadasa, welcoming Dr. Matt Healy to the team as the Chief Strategy Officer focusing on moving the proven results into commercialization.
Matt has been working in advanced materials for the ...
