Encapsulation for Improving the Efficiencies of Solar Cells

Seethamraju, Sindhu; Ramamurthy, Praveen C.; Madras, Giridhar

doi:10.1007/978-1-4939-1628-3_2

Cited by 10 publications

(7 citation statements)

References 60 publications

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“…In this study, the lowest WVTR value of the PU composite was 54.2 g mm day −1 m −2 , obtained by using 1.5 wt % of the modified B‐CNCs. This value is, however, still much lower than the ideal WVTR value (< 10 −6 g m −2 day −1 ) of the encapsulation material for the new generation solar cell, which was referred to by Seethamraju et al . and Dennler et al .…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 75%

Polyurethane/esterified cellulose nanocrystal composites as a transparent moisture barrier coating for encapsulation of dye sensitized solar cells

Yuwawech

Wootthikanokkhan

Wanwong

et al. 2017

J of Applied Polymer Sci

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This research work aims to investigate the effects of types and concentration of cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) prepared from bacterial cellulose (BC) and nanofibrillated cellulose (NFC) on structure properties of polyurethane (PU) composites. Feasibility of applying the polymer composite for encapsulation of dye sensitized solar cells was of interest. Both CNCs were pretreated via esterification before mixing with the polyurethane by a solution process. Tensile strength and thermal stability of the PU/esterified CNCs were found to be superior to those of the systems reinforced with untreated CNCs. With the introduction of both untreated and esterified CNCs, water vapor transmission rates through the PU composite films were lowered while their visible light transmittance values were maintained to be above 80%. Also, better efficiency and stability of the solar cell were obtained when the PU was reinforced with CNCs, indicating its longer lifetime usage. The most suitable cell, described in terms of durability, was obtained when the PU was mixed with 2 wt % of esterified CNCs obtained from BC. Overall, this study shows that the surface modification of the CNCs is an important factor, affecting the reinforcing efficacy. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2017, 134, 45010.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 75%

Polyurethane/esterified cellulose nanocrystal composites as a transparent moisture barrier coating for encapsulation of dye sensitized solar cells

Yuwawech

Wootthikanokkhan

Wanwong

et al. 2017

J of Applied Polymer Sci

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“…Thereafter, we have used this concept and optimized it further by placing two or three NWs of different diameters and heights on top of each other, as illustrated in Figure 1a,b, to mimic the performance of a two-or three-layered ARC design. number of PV solar cells deployed, as well as reducing the amount of energy-intensive silicon required for the fabrication of highly efficient PV solar cells [13], energy storage (for its availability at all the times) [14], internal recombination losses [15,16], effects of moisture [17], shading [18,19], temperature [20], and the Schockley-Queisser limit [21,22]. The absorption of sunlight can be enhanced by innovations like concentrated solar cells, anti-reflection coating (ARC) layers, and textured surfaces, taking advantage of light trapping.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Although perovskite-based solar cells have recently shown significant improvements in their PCE values, their reliability issues and concerns about potential lead (Pb) leakage to the environment still need to be resolved [ 12 ]. However, there is, of course, room for further improvement regarding the key aspects of Si solar cell technology and increasing the number of PV solar cells deployed, as well as reducing the amount of energy-intensive silicon required for the fabrication of highly efficient PV solar cells [ 13 ], energy storage (for its availability at all the times) [ 14 ], internal recombination losses [ 15 , 16 ], effects of moisture [ 17 ], shading [ 18 , 19 ], temperature [ 20 ], and the Schockley-Queisser limit [ 21 , 22 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Optical and Electrical Analyses of Solar Cells with a Radial PN Junction and Incorporating an Innovative NW Design That Mimics ARC Layers

Cabrera-Espana

Rahman

2023

Nanomaterials

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The implementation of a texturing pattern on the surface of a solar cell is well known for reducing reflection, thus increasing the absorption of sunlight by the solar cell. Nanowires (NWs) that are large in their height have been widely used for this purpose. Through rigorous numerical simulations, this work explores the benefits of short but index-matched NWs and how these designs are also affected by surface recombination. Additionally, this work further optimized power conversion efficiency (PCE) by placing two or three NWs of different heights and diameters on top of each other to mimic the performance of two-NW and three-NW ARC designs with PCEs of 16.8% and 17.55%, respectively, when a radial pn junction is considered. These are the highest reported so far for such a thin silicon solar cell. Furthermore, we also show how these designs were impacted by surface recombination velocity and compare these findings to simple NWs of different heights and diameters.

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“…The lowest WVTR value of the PU composite (54.2 g m −2 day −1 ) was obtained using 1.5 wt % of the esterified B-CNCs. Even though the above value is still much higher than the ideal WVTR value (< 10 −6 g m −2 day −1 ) of the encapsulation material required for the new generation solar cells [8], it was found that the lifetime of the DSSC encapsulated with the PU/B-CNC composite film could be prolonged for more than 4 months (with the normalized power conversion efficiency of 0.8 maintained). This was not the case for the bare DSSC (without encapsulation) which was degraded within a couple of days.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 86%

Transparency, moisture barrier property, and performance of the alternative solar cell encapsulants based on PU/PVDC blend reinforced with different types of cellulose nanocrystals

Yuwawech

Wootthikanokkhan

Tanpichai

2018

Mater Renew Sustain Energy

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Two different types of cellulose nanocrystals, derived from water hyacinth fibers and microfibrillated cellulose (MFC), were prepared using an acid hydrolysis treatment. These cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) were further used as barrier enhancing fillers for polyurethane (PU) blended with 25 wt% of poly(vinylidene dichloride) (PVDC). The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of types and concentration of CNCs on mechanical, optical and barrier properties of polymer composite films. The feasibility of applying the obtained composite films as an encapsulating material for enhancing the lifetime of dye sensitized solar cells (DSSC) was also of interest. The acid hydrolysis of the MFC-yielded rod-shaped cellulose nanocrystals (CNC m ) while the acid-hydrolyzed water hyacinth led to a formation of spherical-shaped cellulose nanocrystals (CNC w ). Regardless of the types of CNCs, the optical transparency of the composite films was maintained well above 60%. According to results in this study, the most efficient film with the lowest water vapor transmission rate of 0.0517 g m −2 day −1 was the PU/PVDC film reinforced with 0.1 wt% of CNC m . The encapsulants made from this composite could prolong the lifetime of the DSSC devices for up to 14 days, with the normalized PCE value of 0.78. Overall, this work showed that the considerations of the barrier properties of the polymer encapsulants alone are insufficient to ensure that the system would be effective. An interfacial adhesion between the encapsulants and the electrodes, as well as some side reactions between polymers and chemicals inside the fabricated cell, should also be taken into account.

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Encapsulation for Improving the Efficiencies of Solar Cells

Cited by 10 publications

References 60 publications

Polyurethane/esterified cellulose nanocrystal composites as a transparent moisture barrier coating for encapsulation of dye sensitized solar cells

Polyurethane/esterified cellulose nanocrystal composites as a transparent moisture barrier coating for encapsulation of dye sensitized solar cells

Optical and Electrical Analyses of Solar Cells with a Radial PN Junction and Incorporating an Innovative NW Design That Mimics ARC Layers

Transparency, moisture barrier property, and performance of the alternative solar cell encapsulants based on PU/PVDC blend reinforced with different types of cellulose nanocrystals

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