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3 clusters · 6 sources · 18 days · First seen · Last updated

Chinese TOPCon solar cell efficiency breakthrough

Overview

Researchers from the Ningbo Institute of Materials Technology and Engineering of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Soochow University have developed a new metallisation method for Tunnel Oxide Passivated Contact (TOPCon) silicon solar cells.

The technique utilizes an aluminium-free silver paste combined with laser-enhanced contact optimisation (LECO) to achieve a certified power-conversion efficiency of 26.31%. This method allows for ultra-thin, high-aspect-ratio gridlines and eliminates the high-temperature firing step that typically damages the passivation layer.

As detailed in a study published in the journal Matter, the LECO method uses high-precision laser beams to apply heat only to specific electrical contact points rather than using industrial ovens to heat the entire plate. This prevents damage to the silicon’s protective film and reduces surface shadowing, allowing for greater light capture.

Because the process can be integrated into existing production lines, it offers a cost-effective way to increase photovoltaic panel performance without requiring major factory retooling. The technology is already impacting global markets; for instance, Filipe Ferraz, a director at Grupo Solare in Brazil, noted that the increase in module power density—moving from 330 W to 610 W models in similar spaces—has “significantly transformed the sector.”

Entities

Chinese Academy of Sciences · Soochow University · Ningbo Institute of Materials Technology and Engineering · Grupo Solare · laser‑enhanced contact optimisation

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.

Timeline

  1. 5 days ago

    [TECHNOLOGY] 4 sources
    Solar cell efficiency reaches record 26.31% via new technology

    Chinese researchers have achieved a record 26.31% efficiency in silicon solar cells using a new laser-based contact method (LECO) that minimizes energy loss and shadowing.

  2. 8 days ago

    [TECHNOLOGY] 2 sources
    Chinese researchers boost TOPCon solar cell efficiency above 26%

    Chinese scientists have boosted TOPCon solar cell efficiency to over 26.31% using aluminum-free silver paste and laser treatment, a method compatible with existing manufacturing lines.

  3. 22 days ago

    [TECHNOLOGY] 2 sources
    Chinese researchers achieve record 26.3% efficiency in TOPCon solar cells

    Chinese researchers using aluminium‑free silver paste and laser‑enhanced contacts have pushed TOPCon silicon solar cells to a certified 26.31% efficiency, a record that could improve panel performance without a

Sources

autonocion.com · eldogomes.com.br · leianoticias.com.br · noticias.dino.com.br · oglobo.globo.com · ultimahora.es

This summary has been updated 1 time: see revision history