Downshifting Encapsulant: Optical Simulation Evaluation of the Solution to Ultraviolet‐Induced Degradation in Silicon Heterojunction Solar Cells
Advanced Energy and Sustainability Research, vol. 6
Abstract
Ultraviolet (UV)‐induced degradation (UVID) poses a significant challenge for the prospective mass production of silicon heterojunction (SHJ) solar cells, known for their high efficiency. In this study, the magnified impact of UV radiation when employing a silicon carbide (SiC)‐based transparent passivating contact (TPC) on the front side of SHJ solar cells is reported. A reduction in open‐circuit voltage (VOC), short‐circuit current (JSC), and fill factor of 12%, 6%, and 11%, respectively, is observed after UV exposure. Conventional UVID mitigation measures, UV‐blocking encapsulation, are assessed through single‐cell TPC laminates, revealing an unavoidable tradeoff between current loss and UVID. Alternatively, the utilization of ultraviolet‐downshifting (UV‐DS) encapsulants is proposed to convert UV radiation into the visible light spectrum. An optical simulation method, conducted via OPAL2, is presented to evaluate UV‐DS encapsulants for diminishing UVID in SHJ solar cells with different front contacts. A simple methodology is proposed to mimic the optical property of UV‐DS encapsulants. In the simulation results, additional current gains of up to 0.33 mA cm−2 achievable with suitable UV‐DS encapsulants are highlighted. The factors related to the UV‐DS effects are evaluated and the optimization pathway for UV‐DS encapsulants is elucidated.
Authors 15
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Forschungszentrum Jülich · Jülich Aachen Research Alliance · RWTH Aachen University
Affiliation as printed
IMD‐3 Photovoltaics Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH 52428 Jülich Germany
Jülich‐Aachen Research Alliance (JARA‐Energy) and Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Information Technology RWTH Aachen University Schinkelstr. 2 52062 Aachen Germany
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Affiliation as printed
IMD‐3 Photovoltaics Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH 52428 Jülich Germany
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Alexander Eberst Aachen
Forschungszentrum Jülich · Jülich Aachen Research Alliance · RWTH Aachen University
Affiliation as printed
IMD‐3 Photovoltaics Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH 52428 Jülich Germany
Jülich‐Aachen Research Alliance (JARA‐Energy) and Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Information Technology RWTH Aachen University Schinkelstr. 2 52062 Aachen Germany
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Kai Zhang Aachen
Forschungszentrum Jülich · Jülich Aachen Research Alliance · RWTH Aachen University
Affiliation as printed
IMD‐3 Photovoltaics Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH 52428 Jülich Germany
Jülich‐Aachen Research Alliance (JARA‐Energy) and Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Information Technology RWTH Aachen University Schinkelstr. 2 52062 Aachen Germany
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Yanxin Liu Aachen
Forschungszentrum Jülich · Jülich Aachen Research Alliance · RWTH Aachen University
Affiliation as printed
IMD‐3 Photovoltaics Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH 52428 Jülich Germany
Jülich‐Aachen Research Alliance (JARA‐Energy) and Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Information Technology RWTH Aachen University Schinkelstr. 2 52062 Aachen Germany
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Chinese Academy of Sciences · Institute of Electrical Engineering · University of Chinese Academy of Sciences
Affiliation as printed
Institute of Electrical Engineering Chinese Academy of Sciences 100190 Beijing China
University of Chinese Academy of Sciences 100190 Beijing China
Institute of Electrical Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 100190 Beijing, China
University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, 100190 Beijing, China
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Affiliation as printed
IMD‐3 Photovoltaics Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH 52428 Jülich Germany
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Muhammad Ainul Yaqin Aachen
Forschungszentrum Jülich · Jülich Aachen Research Alliance · RWTH Aachen University
Affiliation as printed
IMD‐3 Photovoltaics Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH 52428 Jülich Germany
Jülich‐Aachen Research Alliance (JARA‐Energy) and Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Information Technology RWTH Aachen University Schinkelstr. 2 52062 Aachen Germany
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Affiliation as printed
IMD‐3 Photovoltaics Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH 52428 Jülich Germany
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Chinese Academy of Sciences · Institute of Electrical Engineering · University of Chinese Academy of Sciences
Affiliation as printed
Institute of Electrical Engineering Chinese Academy of Sciences 100190 Beijing China
University of Chinese Academy of Sciences 100190 Beijing China
Institute of Electrical Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 100190 Beijing, China
University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, 100190 Beijing, China
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Affiliation as printed
Anhui Huasun Energy Co., Ltd. 242000 Xuancheng China
Anhui Huasun Energy Co., Ltd., 242000 Xuancheng, China
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Chinese Academy of Sciences · Institute of Electrical Engineering · University of Chinese Academy of Sciences
Affiliation as printed
Anhui Huasun Energy Co., Ltd. 242000 Xuancheng China
Institute of Electrical Engineering Chinese Academy of Sciences 100190 Beijing China
University of Chinese Academy of Sciences 100190 Beijing China
Anhui Huasun Energy Co., Ltd., 242000 Xuancheng, China
Institute of Electrical Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 100190 Beijing, China
University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, 100190 Beijing, China
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Affiliation as printed
IMD‐3 Photovoltaics Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH 52428 Jülich Germany
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Uwe Rau Aachen
Forschungszentrum Jülich · Jülich Aachen Research Alliance · RWTH Aachen University
Affiliation as printed
IMD‐3 Photovoltaics Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH 52428 Jülich Germany
Jülich‐Aachen Research Alliance (JARA‐Energy) and Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Information Technology RWTH Aachen University Schinkelstr. 2 52062 Aachen Germany
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Kaining Ding corresponding
Affiliation as printed
IMD‐3 Photovoltaics Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH 52428 Jülich Germany
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