Skip to main content

Core Objective 5: Module Materials Solutions

DuraMAT's materials solutions core objective leverages technical capabilities across all of its partners to design, develop, and de-risk materials that address the current reliability challenges in photovoltaic (PV) systems.

Depending on specific project goals, the study targets may include electrically conductive adhesives (ECAs), backsheets, anti-soiling coatings, flexible packaging, cell cracking, and moisture barriers. This crosscutting objective will generate results that threads through all other objectives as materials solutions is the foundation for advances in reliability and degradation.

Key results under this objective are the development of a self-healing, conducting composite that regains electrical continuity across cracks and the generation of new concepts for module encapsulation and barrier technologies.

Key Results

  • De-risk innovative materials using accelerated testing and materials forensics: 
    • Characterization of failure modes in ECAs, develop crack tolerant metallization to increase reliability of cells, design sustainable, reliable, recyclable backsheets 
  • Enable new architectures including: 
    • Flexible modules: define the technical requirement of each component in the flexible module as well as the overall material stack, and develop process to experimentally evaluate module performances, Advance reliability of bifacial modules through new transparent packaging materials

Related Projects

Reliability of Modules with High-Efficiency Solar Cells with Copper-Plated Contacts

Development of Flexible Panel Front Sheet with 25-Year Rated Lifetime

Advanced Material Development to Support Low-LCOE 25-Year Flexible Photovoltaic Modules

Development of a Spray Deposition Method for a Polysilsesquioxane Coating for Photovoltaic Modules

Low-Cost Advanced Metallization to Reduce Cell-Crack-Induced Degradation for Increased Module Reliability

Advancing Bifacial Solar Module Reliability and Manufacturability with New Module Materials and Lightweight Transparent Back Lamination

New Concepts for Reliable Low-Cost Module Encapsulation and Barrier Technologies

Advanced Multifunctional Coatings for PV Glass to Reduce Soiling and PID Losses

Advanced Multifunctional Coatings for PV Glass PV Module Backsheets

Failure Mechanisms in Electrically Conductive Adhesives

A Hybrid Hydrophobic-Hydrophilic Coating with Combined Anti-Reflective and Anti-Soiling Properties

Materials Discovery, Selection, and Design Using Software Tools

Electromechanical and Mechanical Stress Testing of Grid Fingers, Busbars, and Modules

Highly Conductive, Low-Cost Polymer Adhesive Composites with Complex Dimensional Fillers

Scalable Packaging Materials for Roll-to-Roll Processed Thin Film Solar Cells

BACKFLIP: Determination of Backsheet Material Properties

Laser-Welded Edge Seals for Glass/Glass PV Modules

Durability of Modules Utilizing Screen-Printed Copper Contacts

Multifunctional and Durable Engineered Glass for Photovoltaic Applications

Silicon Module Recycling by High-Power Lasers

Contact 

To learn more about this core objective, contact Bruce King