First ever full size CdTe luminescent down-shifting module

Abstract

For the first time a luminescent down-shifting (LDS) layer has been applied to a full size PV module to improve its short-wavelength response. An average 4.3% relative increase in the short-circuit current density (J SC ) was recorded for the Calyxo cadmium telluride (CdTe) modules after the best LDS layer was applied. The LDS layers consisted of a 0.5 mm thick ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) host doped with Lumogen F Violet 570 and Yellow 083 dyes with a 0.127 mm thick top encapsulation sheet of fluorinated ethylene propylene (FEP). The same LDS layer was also applied to mini-modules (10cm × 10 cm) cut from production line modules, sold as CX3, which resulted in a J SC increase of 7%. LDS layers containing each of the dyes alone were also applied to both full size and mini-modules.