Laser Scribing of Photovoltaic Solar Thin Films: A Review

The development of thin-film photovoltaics has emerged as a promising solution to the global energy crisis within the field of solar cell technology. However, transitioning from laboratory scale to large-area solar cells requires precise and high-quality scribes to achieve the required voltage and reduce ohmic losses. Laser scribing has shown great potential in preserving efficiency by minimizing the drop in geometrical fill factor, resistive losses, and shunt formation. However, due to the laser induced photothermal effects, various defects can initiate and impact the quality of scribed grooves and weaken the module's efficiency. In this regard, much research has been conducted to analyze the geometrical fill factor, surface integrity, and electrical performance of the laser scribes to reach higher power conversion efficiencies. This comprehensive review of laser scribing of photovoltaic solar thin films pivots on scribe quality and analyzes the critical factors and challenges affecting the efficiency and reliability of the scribing process. This review also covers the latest developments in using laser systems, parameters, and techniques for patterning various types of solar thin films to identify the optimized laser ablation condition. Furthermore, potential research directions for future investigations at improving the quality and performance of thin film laser scribing are suggested.