The company alloys pure molybdenum with small amounts of corrosion-resistant tantalum, and thereby combines the advanced properties of both metals. The superior corrosion resistance of molybdenum-tantalum (MoTa) has been proven in numerous tests. Below you can see the result of a corrosion experiment at elevated temperature (60 °C) and high humidity (90%): The carved thin films (layer thickness: 300 nm) of MoTa exhibit a much better corrosion resistance, compared with pure molybdenum.
Especially on polymer-based substrates like polyimide, the high water and oxygen permeation can result in an increased corrosion of the CIGS back contact. With its higher corrosion resistance MoTa can minimize this effect.
But MoTa not only functions as a back contact material. On flexible substrates like stainless steel foil and polyimide the new alloy can function as a corrosion resistant contact and protective layer. It effectively protects the backside of the stainless steel web during the selenization step in the CIGS manufacturing process.
Only registered users can comment.
