By limiting recombination, passivated emitter and rear cell (PERC) solar cells can provide an absolute efficiency boost of 1%, making their relative efficiency about 7% greater than that of other screen printing methods. This article covers the early stages of the nondestructive and destructive imaging performed to evaluate and enhance the efficiency of PERC solar cells. Electroluminescence images, acoustic images, and scanning electron micrographs were used in this research.

A new acoustic imaging technique provides a precise, nondestructive view of structural features in the interface region between an aluminum substrate and an open-cell metal foam. It also provides insight into the dynamics of the bonding process and the formation of voids.