Germany-based equipment provider SCHMID has developed a process for the texturing of diamond-wire-cut multi-wafers that the company says can easily can be integrated into existing production lines. The first modular wet process systems, called DW PreTex, will be shipped in the second quarter.
SCHMID says the process roughens the relatively smooth surface of the wafers so that they can be processed afterwards with the standard HF/HNO3 texture, and the process can be implemented as the last step in a wafering fab or as the first process step in cell manufacturing fab.
“We have processed samples for all leading wafer and cell manufacturers in our technology center,” explains Dr. Christian Buchner, head of the photovoltaics business at SCHMID. “With DW PreTex, our customers achieve more uniform surfaces than by texturing slurry-cut wafers – at operating costs of less than 0.01 Euro per wafer.”
More information is available here.
Photo courtesy of SCHMID: As a modular wet process system, DW PreTex can be integrated into the existing production line without additional requirements.
