Dow Corning’s silicone-based ECA designed for MWT cell designs

Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Reddit
Email

Dow Corning’s silicone-based, next-generation Electrically Conductive Adhesive (ECA) ‘PV-5802’ will be used in Tianwei New Energy’s Metal Wrap Through (MWT) module production line, developed by ECN of the Netherlands. PV-5802 is said to provide improved electrical properties and stability, which will greatly enhance the electrical performance, reliability and durability of MWT modules.

Problem

Conductive adhesives are used to attach and make electrical contact between the current carrying ribbons, busbars and back contact sheets of the cells. Degradation in the interconnect may affect current carrying capacity. Conductive adhesives capable of withstanding stresses in a PV module with minimal degradation over a 20-plus year product life cycle are required.

This article requires Premium SubscriptionBasic (FREE) Subscription

Try Premium for just $1

  • Full premium access for the first month at only $1
  • Converts to an annual rate after 30 days unless cancelled
  • Cancel anytime during the trial period

Premium Benefits

  • Expert industry analysis and interviews
  • Digital access to PV Tech Power journal
  • Exclusive event discounts

Or get the full Premium subscription right away

Or continue reading this article for free

Solution

Dow Corning’s PV-5802 new silicone-based ECA has been developed for the Metal Wrap-Through module technology. It was said to have demonstrated excellent conductivity and production yield in tests on Tianwei’s MWT production line. The MWT modules using PV-5802 had very low cell-to-module power loss, less than 0.4%. The full area module efficiencies reached 16.8 %, for multi-crystalline silicon modules. In accelerated ageing tests, the modules showed very low degradation: 0% loss after 300 thermal cycles (between –40 °C and 85 °C), and 0.2% loss after 1500 hours in damp heat conditions (85 °C, 85 % relative humidity).

Applications

Dow Corning’s conductive adhesives can also be used with other PV back contact module manufacturing applications, such as IBC as well as MWT solar cells.

Platform

The PV-5802 ECA has an Ag filler content below 60% but maintains a conductivity after curing below 1 mOhmcm. It is flexible over a wide range of temperatures, which enables stress-relief and is beneficial for durability. Also designed to be compatible with Organic Solderability Preservative (OSP)-finished contact backsheet (CBS).

Availability

Currently available.

Read Next

September 11, 2025
Founder Group has won a RM10 million (US$2.3 million) engineering, procurement, construction and commissioning contract for a 30MW solar plant in Malaysia.
September 11, 2025
German renewable energy developer ib vogt has signed a 70MW solar PV virtual power purchase agreement (vPPA) in Romania.
September 11, 2025
Madison Energy Infrastructure has raised US$800 million to accelerate the deployment of clean energy assets across the US. 
September 11, 2025
The PEARL Consortium has developed perovskite solar cells with carbon electrodes with a conversion efficiency of 21.6%.
September 11, 2025
The EBRD has launched a new programme to improve access to green financing and support energy investments such as renewable power projects.
September 11, 2025
Constant Energy has secured THB300 million (US$9.4 million) in green financing from HSBC to expand large-scale solar and battery storage projects in Thailand. 

Subscribe to Newsletter

Upcoming Events

Solar Media Events
September 16, 2025
Athens, Greece
Solar Media Events
September 30, 2025
Seattle, USA
Solar Media Events
October 1, 2025
London, UK
Solar Media Events
October 2, 2025
London,UK
Solar Media Events
October 7, 2025
Manila, Philippines