The "Silver-Free" Storm in Photovoltaic Metallization: Zhongyi Strengthens the Foundation for Cost Reduction in PV
2026-06-12 11:07
As the photovoltaic industry accelerates its push toward "0.1 yuan per kilowatt-hour cost," a "silver-free" storm is sweeping across the global metallization sector. Low-temperature copper paste (and silver-coated copper) technology, with its unparalleled cost advantages, is emerging as a pivotal variable in the evolution of photovoltaic cell technology pathways.
In the photovoltaic industry, where efficiency improvement and cost reduction are nearly stringent requirements, low-temperature copper paste technology is becoming a mandatory choice for the mass production of HJT (heterojunction) cells, with its core value manifesting across three key dimensions:
Extreme Cost Reduction: Since 2025, the cumulative increase in silver prices has nearly reached 150%, making silver paste the largest cost component in modules. The low-temperature copper paste solution can reduce silver consumption by 60%-70%, lowering the cost per watt by 1-2 cents, directly reshaping HJT's cost competitiveness;
Breakthrough in Process Compatibility: Perfectly suited for the low-temperature curing system of HJT batteries at 180-200°C, avoiding high-temperature damage to amorphous silicon thin films, it serves as a critical foundational support for the large-scale industrialization of high-efficiency batteries;
Industrial Chain Autonomy and Control: Breaking the excessive reliance on scarce precious metal "silver" and leveraging abundant copper resources to build a secure resource barrier for the long-term, high-quality development of China's photovoltaic industry.
When Copper Paste Meets HJT: Three Major Limits in Production Process
Challenging low-temperature copper paste not only unleashes the dividend of cost reduction, but also poses unprecedented challenges to its production preparation and paste quality. Compared to traditional silver paste, the threshold for "activity, fineness, and stability" of low-temperature copper paste has been raised to a new height, and the core challenges focus on:
1. The extremely high surface activity poses a challenge to oxidation prevention, which demands the utmost temperature control for grinding.
Nano copper powder is highly prone to oxidation, and under the mechanical shear force of grinding and dispersion, temperature rise can cause a rapid formation of non-conductive oxide layer on the surface of copper powder. This requires the dispersing equipment to have excellent low-temperature cold control capabilities, controlling the grinding temperature rise below 40 ℃ to ensure the original conductivity and long-term chemical stability of the slurry.
2. The ultra-fine dispersion standard at the sub micron level proposes zero defect requirements for consistency of the slurry.
In order to adapt to the mainstream 0BB (no main grid) and fine grid line printing processes by 2026, the fineness of copper paste must be stable at ≤ 3 μ m. The characteristic of copper powder being highly prone to agglomeration requires equipment to have extremely high shear accuracy to thoroughly disperse nano aggregates, avoid screen blockage and printing breakage caused by large particles, and ensure the continuous operation of GW level production lines.
3. The requirement for bubble free uniformity in high viscosity systems requires refined standards for the defoaming performance of rubber materials.
Low temperature copper paste belongs to a high viscosity and high filler system, which is prone to being entrained with micrometer sized bubbles during mixing. During the curing process, these bubbles will form micro porous defects, seriously damaging the density and adhesion of the grid lines. This requires the supporting equipment to achieve seamless defoaming in a high vacuum environment of -100KPa, ensuring the yield and efficiency of the slurry in the ultrafine printing process.
Zhongyi Technology strengthens the core defense line for fine production of low-temperature copper paste
In the entire process of research and large-scale production of low-temperature copper paste, the uniformity and trace bubbles inside the paste are the underlying passwords that determine the battery conversion efficiency. As a core supplier of precision dispersing equipment in China, ZYE Technology has solved the production problem of copper paste replacing silver paste from the root through an integrated closed-loop process of "precision grinding+high vacuum defoaming".
Core solution one: Ultra precision three roll grinding, reshaping the conductive fineness. Zhongyi Precision Three Roll Machine uses ultra mirror rollers with a hardness of HRC60 or above (Ra ≤ 0.02 μ m) to generate extremely high shear force through the gradient speed difference between the three rollers. On the premise of not damaging the activity of the material, achieve 3-5 deep grinding passes to stabilize the fineness at the sub micron level, ensuring the delicacy and consistency of the copper paste during the printing process.
Core solution 2: Non intrusive planetary defoaming, locking in the quality defense line
The ground slurry enters the Zhongyi planetary vacuum mixer. By utilizing the powerful centrifugal force field generated by "revolution+rotation" and combining it with a high vacuum environment of -100KPa, the microbubbles inside the high viscosity copper paste are instantly extracted. The entire process is free of blade contact and metal pollution, perfectly adapting to the photovoltaic industry's process red line of high cleanliness and zero bubbles in pulp.
Zhongyi's solution helps upgrade the photovoltaic "de silver" industry chain
With the arrival of the large-scale expansion of HJT battery production, low-temperature copper paste has become a definite path for photovoltaic metallization, and precision dispersion technology is the key underlying support for the large-scale implementation of this revolutionary technology. Zhongyi Technology not only provides standalone equipment, but is also committed to creating a "dispersion grinding defoaming" full process solution from laboratory formula research and development to ton level commercial production. With a deep understanding of the new energy slurry field, Zhongyi is assisting domestic copper slurry enterprises in breaking through the technical barriers of international brands, while empowering battery cell enterprises to improve production line yield and cost reduction capabilities. Choosing Zhongyi is to build a solid technological moat for the "de silvering" storm of photovoltaics, and to help China's photovoltaics continue to lead the global energy transition.
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