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BERT THIN FILMS

Plug and Play Copper Pastes

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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.

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COPPER

FORMULATING

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COPPER PASTE

Far cheaper than silver

Same methods as silver pastes

Simple plug and play

Filling paste jar

Front Side Copper Metallization Paste

  • Screen printable using industry standard screens and printers

  • Fired in air using industry standard belt furnaces 

  • Does not require an inert atmosphere

  • Demonstrated on several architectures

  • Can be formulated for specific design

CuBert™ is a lower cost paste requiring no process changes

BERT THIN FILMS TEAM

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THAD DRUFFEL, PHD, PE

Founder & CEO

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RUVINI DHARMADASA, PHD

Founder & CTO

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MATTHEW D. HEALY, PHD

Chief Strategy Officer

NEWS

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Modern Digital Watch

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 ... 

NEWS ARCHIVES
 

2024 - 2014

Bert Thin Films was formed by Dr. Ruvini Dharmadasa and Dr. Thad Druffel to commercialize a copper paste for the solar energy industry that replaces silver paste.

 

To access more news stories related to Bert Thin Films click Archives below.

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CONTACT US

625 Myrtle St.
Louisville, KY 40208

502-738-7001

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