Researchers cut TOPCon solar cell metallization costs 6.8% by substituting nickel for silver

Australian scientists and industry partners demonstrated that optimized nickel powder in rear metallization can replace part of the silver in next-generation TOPCon solar cells with minimal efficiency loss, lowering raw material costs.

First covered Nov 4, 2026 · 12:36 AM PT · 1 article · no longer in the live window

Researchers cut TOPCon solar cell metallization costs 6.8% by substituting nickel for silver — Image via pv-magazine.com

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7d PV Magazine Nickel powder optimization cuts TOPCon solar cell metallization costs by 6.8% without compromising efficiency — Researchers at Australia's UNSW, in collaboration with SunDrive and Shenzhen APG, have demonstrated that replacing part of the silver with nickel in TOPCon…

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sciencedirect.com Screen printed Ag-doped nickel metallization for industrial n-TOPCon silicon solar cells - ScienceDirect

ui.adsabs.harvard.edu Screen printed Ag-doped nickel metallization for industrial n-TOPCon silicon solar cells - ADS

globalenergyprize.org Silver replaced with nickel: Chinese paste cuts solar cell costs

pveurope.eu Germany

taiyangnews.info Metallization Challenges In Advanced TOPCon Cell Development

Appeared in: 2026-11-04 (#8)

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Researchers cut TOPCon solar cell metallization costs 6.8% by substituting nickel for silver

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