Abstract
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.
Highlights
IntroductionAmong other renewable energy sources, PV can be considered as the most versatile—
Our aim in the present study is to present the evidence for the basic feasibility of the proposed concept, i.e., using 3Darchitected layered polymer structures consisting of helicoidally aligned fibers to provide protection of the silicon solar cells especially against the initiation/propagation of cracks due to impact loads
Enabling Next-Gen Lightweight Photovoltaic (PV) Module Technology. It is clear from the results presented so far, that the Helicoidally-Aligned Synthetic Structural Composites (HA-SSCs) composites/membranes are very effective in absorbing and dissipating impact energy/damage and could protect the fragile silicon solar cells under them from point impact loads that silicon PV is very prone to
Summary
Among other renewable energy sources, PV can be considered as the most versatile—. It can be used in highly urbanized areas, as well as in the most remote areas, and can even float in water (oceans, lakes, etc.). It is critical to develop PV modules and technologies that are appropriate for the particular uses and their unique circumstances/conditions. A single PV module design and technology may not be appropriate for PV modules used in various applications. Lightweight photovoltaics (PV) modules, for instance, are important for certain segments of renewable energy markets. Many largescale buildings—such as exhibition halls, factories, supermarkets, farms, etc.—have huge
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