Cross Sectioning of CuSn Connector of a Solar Cell

Purpose
Ion beam slope cutting is a method that can achieve flat cross sections of soft materials or material combinations consisting of hard and soft components. The CuSn connector is very soft. Mechanical polishing leads to smearing.

Goal
Cross section to see the layer structure and their interfaces.

Process Description
(benchmark values for this particular sample)
Mechanical pre-preparation with Leica EM TXP using 9 µm diamond lapping foil at 2600 rpm.

Results

• The cut is very flat and clean
• The grain structure of CU and Sn is clearly visible. The interface shows an intermediate layer and voids.

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