HANDLING AND STORAGE

nHandling and Storage:

· Safety Precautions: Space solar cells contain harmful substances (arsenic and phosphorus). Handle them carefully with protective gloves (e.g., latex) to avoid health risks such as ingestion, inhalation of dust, or skin contact. Wash hands thoroughly if skin contact occurs.

· Breakage Protocol: In the event of breakage, clean up contaminated areas promptly.

· Handling Tools: Use vacuum tweezers for handling the cells.

· Environmental Protection: Keep cells dry and protect from humidity to prevent oxidation and corrosion of materials (e.g., Ge substrate, metallization, semiconductor layers, ARC).

· Storage: Store and transport in dry conditions. Avoid outgassing from the storage package.

nProcessing:

· Interconnector Material: Use gold or silver for the front side interconnectors.

· Soldering: Use silver-saturated solder (Sn96.5/Ag3.5 or other suitable variants). Do not exceed a soldering temperature of 300°C for brief periods (approx. 1 minute) to avoid damage to the metallization.

· Mounting: Use flexible glue when attaching secondary optics or a cover glass to avoid mechanical strain on the cell and metal fingers.

· Cleaning: Clean the cell using ethanol or isopropyl alcohol under dimmed light conditions. Avoid solvents that, in combination with light or voltage, could cause dendrite growth due to silver electro-migration.

· Mechanical Handling: Avoid applying shear forces to the metal grid and smearing metal over the edges of the cell, as this could result in short-circuits.

· Electrical Protection: Ensure solar cells are protected from electrical discharge during all processes.

nOperation:

· Temperature Limit: Do not exceed a maximum operating temperature of 150°C.

· Open-Circuit Operation: Avoid operating the cell in an open-circuit condition, as it risks overheating and damaging the cell. Uneven illumination should not cause the temperature difference to exceed a factor of 2.

· Bypass Diodes: Each solar cell in a module must be equipped with a bypass diode to prevent damage from current or voltage spikes.

· Avoid Spikes: Avoid current and voltage spikes during operation, connection, and disconnection to the grid.

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