Large Scale Batch Processing of Mini-Modules

6 Large Scale Batch Processing of Mini-Modules 

As mentioned in the introduction, nc-DSCs are expected in the short term to be available for low-power applications, competing with other thin film technologies, among which amorphous silicon is already an established technology. 

One aspect of indoor applications which makes sealing somewhat less critical is the low temperature range under operation and storage, as well as the possibility of using electrolytes with high viscosity and high boiling point. For commercialisation of indoor dye devices, it is of the utmost importance to simplify and optimize the currently known process steps. 

Further process steps such as dye coloration, electrolyte filling and seal-ing/lamination, leading to sealed completed modules, have also been carried out on 10 x 10 cm2 substrates. For these process steps, dedicated equipment has been developed from the laboratory stage, since it is not commercially available. A photo of a fully processed master plate is shown in Fig. 7.7. It contains 4 modules of 5 cells each (total area of 1 module 20 cm2) on one TCO plate of 100 cm2. These modules were intended for LCD powered price tags on supermarket shelves. 

The five-cell dye module with the design showed in Fig. 7.7 was compared with a commercially available amorphous Si module (for price tag application) and similar performance was demonstrated for the active module area. The I-V parameters are shown in Table 7.1. 

---