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Technical application of thick film printing technology in Photovoltaic Cell Manufacturing

Against the global shift to greener, low‑carbon energy, photovoltaic (PV) power stands out as one of the most promising clean energy solutions. A PV cell combines materials science, precision engineering, and automation. Among its core processes, thick‑film screen printing is vital for electrode fabrication and conductive pattern formation. High‑precision printing equipment not only determines production throughput but also directly influences conversion efficiency and product uniformity.
Aug 1st,2026 10 Views
1.What is a photovoltaic cell?

A photovoltaic cell, also known as a solar cell, is a semiconductor device that converts sunlight directly into electricity through the photovoltaic effect. Its core material is typically a silicon wafer; when sunlight strikes the cell surface, an electric current is generated, enabling the conversion of light energy into electrical energy.


PV cells are widely used in renewable energy generation, distributed PV systems, energy storage, new energy vehicles, and many other fields. They are the most essential component of any photovoltaic power system.


Depending on the material and technological route, PV cells are mainly classified into crystalline silicon solar cells, thin‑film solar cells, and next‑generation high‑efficiency solar cells. Among these, crystalline silicon cells remain the most widely adopted technology in the market today.


Image source: Internet

2. Why has screen printing become critical in PV cell manufacturing?

Currently, mainstream crystalline silicon solar cells commonly employ thick‑film screen printing to accurately deposit conductive pastes onto the silicon wafer surface according to a designed pattern, followed by high‑temperature sintering to form conductive lines. This process offers high pattern precision, high throughput, excellent paste utilization, and suitability for large‑scale continuous production—making it one of the most widely used manufacturing techniques in the PV industry.

3. How are PV cells printed?

In PV cell manufacturing, thick‑film screen printing is the key process for electrode formation. By precisely printing functional pastes such as silver paste and aluminum paste onto the wafer surface, and then going through drying and sintering steps, the front grid lines, busbars, and rear electrodes are formed, enabling efficient current collection and transmission.

The typical screen‑printing process sequence is:
Back electrode printing → Drying → Back fine‑grid printing → Drying → Front electrode printing → Drying → Front fine‑grid printing → Drying → Sintering → Testing and sorting.

Image source: PV Technology WeChat Official Account

Throughout this printing process, the pattern must be complete, lines clear, thickness uniform, and alignment precise—ensuring excellent electrical conductivity and conversion efficiency in the final PV cell.

4. The role of thick‑film printing equipment in PV manufacturing

During electrode preparation, thick‑film screen printing equipment is the key enabler of pattern accuracy and consistency. Control over electrode line width, paste transfer stability, and registration accuracy all directly affect cell efficiency and yield.

High‑precision thick‑film screen printing systems typically require vision‑alignment systems, stable motion control, and precise squeegee pressure regulation to ensure that materials like silver paste are uniformly and accurately transferred onto the wafer surface, forming high‑quality electrode structures.

Recommended equipment: JY‑IC‑200A‑CCD

  • Maximum printing area: 200 × 200 mm
  • CCD vision system improves loading accuracy and increases work efficiency
  • Suitable for solar cells, ceramic substrates, PCBs, and electronic component printing
  • This model is protected by 1 invention patent and 5 utility model patents

5. Conclusion

As high‑efficiency PV cell technologies continue to evolve, the photovoltaic industry is moving toward higher conversion efficiencies, lower manufacturing costs, and more intelligent production. As one of the core processes in PV cell fabrication, thick‑film screen printing will keep playing a vital role in enhancing product performance, manufacturing efficiency, and consistency.

As a manufacturer of high‑precision thick‑film screen printing equipment, JYUTEC will continue to deepen its expertise in precision printing technology, continuously improving equipment performance and process solutions. We are committed to providing stable, efficient printing solutions for the photovoltaic, new‑energy electronics, and advanced manufacturing sectors, contributing to the high‑quality development of the green energy industry through precision engineering.

IC-200A-CCD Screen Printer

Maximum printing size: 200mmx200mm The printing accuracy: ± 5um The screen printer can be used for precision screen printing of ceramic substrates, electronic components,sensor ,PCB boards and other fields. It is equipped with CCD automatic visual alignment to reduce manual feeding errors.
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IC-200A-LTCC Screen Printer

Maximum printing size: 130mmx130mm The printing accuracy: ± 5um This is the special screen printer for Production of Multilayer circuit Components such as LTCC,HTCC,MLCC, fuel cell,solar cell,etc. The platform is equipped with a special roll paper platform, effectively preventing cross contamination during printing.
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2HP-320 Desktop Screen Printer

Max Printing size: 100mmx100mm Operation mode: Manual This is a small and high-precision manual desk thick film screen printer that can be used for experimental research on ceramic substrates, small electronic components, etc
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IC-250B-CCD Screen Printer

Maximum printing size: 250mmx250mm The printing accuracy: ± 5um The screen printer can be used for precision screen printing of ceramic substrates, electronic components, ,PCB boards and other fields. It is equipped with CCD automatic visual alignment to reduce manual feeding errors. The IC-250B screen printer is an upgraded version of the IC-250A, with the main difference being that some precision accessories have different brands and the same functions
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IC-250A-CCD Screen Printer

Maximum printing size: 250mmx250mm The printing accuracy: ± 5um The screen printer can be used for precision screen printing of ceramic substrates, electronic components, ,PCB boards and other fields. It is equipped with CCD automatic visual alignment to reduce manual feeding errors.
VIEW MORE

IC-250B-LTCC Screen Printer

Maximum printing size: 230mmx230mm The printing accuracy: ± 5um This is the special screen printer for Production of Multilayer circuit Components such as LTCC,HTCC,MLCC, fuel cell,solar cell,etc. The platform is equipped with a special roll paper platform, effectively preventing cross contamination during printing.
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Printing Materials
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Ceramics
Metals
Thin Films
Wafers
Glass
Other Materials
Printing Area *
Choose your products printing area
≤150x150mm
≤250x250mm
≤400x400mm
≤600x600mm
>600x600mm
Process requirements
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Verification Code