Effect of encapsulants on the thermomechanical residual stress in the back-contact silicon solar cells of photovoltaic modules – A constrained local curvature model

Tippabhotla, Sasi Kumar; Song, W.J.R.; Tay, A.A.O.; Budiman, Arief Suriadi

doi:10.1016/j.solener.2019.02.028

Cited by 31 publications

(13 citation statements)

References 25 publications

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“…Upon finally breaking the silicon solar cells underneath them at much higher heights, both the HA-SSC membrane materials exhibit several crack lines on the silicon cells indicating highly dissipated impact energy and transfer of load to the sideways (evident from the crack lines at different angles on the surfaces of the silicon cells) as received by the silicon cells. These cracks appear to follow the preferred crystallographic directions of <110> associated with the weakest crystallographic planes of {111} in typical silicon monocrystalline wafers/solar cells, as has been widely reported in the literature for both PV and other silicon-based energy devices [ 38 , 39 , 40 , 41 , 42 , 43 , 44 , 45 ].…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 68%

Impact-Resistant and Tough 3D Helicoidally Architected Polymer Composites Enabling Next-Generation Lightweight Silicon Photovoltaics Module Design and Technology

et al. 2021

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Lightweight photovoltaics (PV) modules are important for certain segments of the renewable energy markets—such as exhibition halls, factories, supermarkets, farms, etc. However, lightweight silicon-based PV modules have their own set of technical challenges or concerns. One of them, which is the subject of this paper, is the lack of impact resistance, especially against hailstorms in deep winter in countries with four seasons. Even if the front sheet can be made sufficiently strong and impact-resistant, the silicon cells inside remain fragile and very prone to impact loading. This leads to cracks that significantly degrade performance (output power) over time. A 3D helicoidally architected fiber-based polymer composite has recently been found to exhibit excellent impact resistance, inspired by the multi-hierarchical internal structures of the mantis shrimp’s dactyl clubs. In previous work, our group demonstrated that via electrospinning-based additive manufacturing methodologies, weak polymer material constituents could be made to exhibit significantly improved toughness and impact properties. In this study, we demonstrate the use of 3D architected fiber-based polymer composites to protect the silicon solar cells by absorbing impact energy. The absorbed energy is equivalent to the energy that would impact the solar cells during hailstorms. We have shown that silicon cells placed under such 3D architected polymer layers break at substantially higher impact load/energy (compared to those placed under standard PV encapsulation polymer material). This could lead to the development of novel PV encapsulant materials for the next generation of lightweight PV modules and technology with excellent impact resistance.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 68%

Impact-Resistant and Tough 3D Helicoidally Architected Polymer Composites Enabling Next-Generation Lightweight Silicon Photovoltaics Module Design and Technology

et al. 2021

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“…The second stage is the healing step, during which the initial polymer properties are restored [4,7]. Typically, self-healing polymers are designed based on (i) an extrinsic approach using pre-embedded healing agents [8][9][10] or microvascular systems [11][12][13][14]) or (ii) an intrinsic approach using reversible covalent [15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24] or supramolecular [25][26][27][28][29] bonds.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Self-Healing in Mobility-Restricted Conditions Maintaining Mechanical Robustness: Furan–Maleimide Diels–Alder Cycloadditions in Polymer Networks for Ambient Applications

et al. 2020

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Two reversible polymer networks, based on Diels–Alder cycloadditions, are selected to discuss the opportunities of mobility-controlled self-healing in ambient conditions for which information is lacking in literature. The main methods for this study are (modulated temperature) differential scanning calorimetry, microcalorimetry, dynamic rheometry, dynamic mechanical analysis, and kinetic simulations. The reversible network 3M-3F630 is chosen to study the conceptual aspects of diffusion-controlled Diels–Alder reactions from 20 to 65 °C. Network formation by gelation is proven and above 30 °C gelled glasses are formed, while cure below 30 °C gives ungelled glasses. The slow progress of Diels–Alder reactions in mobility-restricted conditions is proven by the further increase of the system’s glass transition temperature by 24 °C beyond the cure temperature of 20 °C. These findings are employed in the reversible network 3M-F375PMA, which is UV-polymerized, starting from a Diels–Alder methacrylate pre-polymer. Self-healing of microcracks in diffusion-controlled conditions is demonstrated at 20 °C. De-gelation measurements show the structural integrity of both networks up to at least 150 °C. Moreover, mechanical robustness in 3M-F375PMA is maintained by the poly(methacrylate) chains to at least 120 °C. The self-healing capacity is simulated in an ambient temperature window between −40 and 85 °C, supporting its applicability as self-healing encapsulant in photovoltaics.

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“…The movement of the indenter into the specimen was recorded for each increment of displacement to obtain a load vs. displacement plot analogous to the results of the indentation experiments. Finite element modeling (FE) has proven to be an effective tool to elucidate the stress and damage evolution in applications where in-situ experimental observations are not possible, or when they are only theoretically possible, but in reality, almost impossible, or at least impractical [ 64 , 65 , 66 , 67 , 68 ].…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Crystallographic Anisotropy Dependence of Interfacial Sliding Phenomenon in a Cu(16)/Nb(16) ARB (Accumulated Rolling Bonding) Nanolaminate

et al. 2022

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Nanolaminates are extensively studied due to their unique properties, such as impact resistance, high fracture toughness, high strength, and resistance to radiation damage. Varieties of nanolaminates are being fabricated to achieve high strength and fracture toughness. In this study, one such nanolaminate fabricated through accumulative roll bonding (Cu(16)/Nb(16) ARB nanolaminate, where 16 nm is the layer thickness) was used as a test material. Cu(16)/Nb(16) ARB nanolaminate exhibits crystallographic anisotropy due to the existence of distinct interfaces along the rolling direction (RD) and the transverse direction (TD). Nanoindentation was executed using a Berkovich tip, with the main axis oriented either along TD or RD of the Cu(16)/Nb(16) ARB nanolaminate. Subsequently, height profiles were obtained along the main axis of the Berkovich indent for both TD and RD using scanning probe microscopy (SPM), which was later used to estimate the pile-up along the RD and TD. The TD exhibited more pile-up than the RD due to the anisotropy of the Cu(16)/Nb(16) ARB interface and the material plasticity along the TD and RD. An axisymmetric 2D finite element analysis (FEA) was also performed to compare/validate nanoindentation data, such as load vs. displacement curves and pile-up. The FEA simulated load vs. displacement curves matched relatively well with the experimentally generated load–displacement curves, while qualitative agreement was found between the simulated pile-up data and the experimentally obtained pile-up data. The authors believe that pile-up characterization during indentation is of great importance to documenting anisotropy in nanolaminates.

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Effect of encapsulants on the thermomechanical residual stress in the back-contact silicon solar cells of photovoltaic modules – A constrained local curvature model

Cited by 31 publications

References 25 publications

Impact-Resistant and Tough 3D Helicoidally Architected Polymer Composites Enabling Next-Generation Lightweight Silicon Photovoltaics Module Design and Technology

Impact-Resistant and Tough 3D Helicoidally Architected Polymer Composites Enabling Next-Generation Lightweight Silicon Photovoltaics Module Design and Technology

Self-Healing in Mobility-Restricted Conditions Maintaining Mechanical Robustness: Furan–Maleimide Diels–Alder Cycloadditions in Polymer Networks for Ambient Applications

Crystallographic Anisotropy Dependence of Interfacial Sliding Phenomenon in a Cu(16)/Nb(16) ARB (Accumulated Rolling Bonding) Nanolaminate

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