REPLACEMENT OF ETHYLENE VINYL ACETATE (EVA) LAYER BY POLYDIMETHYLSILOXANE COMPOSITES (PDMS) OF MESOPOROUS SILICA (SiO2) IN SILICON PHOTOVOLTAIC MODULES

• Grant number: 23/08761-2
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: March 01, 2024
• End date: February 28, 2025
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Materials and Metallurgical Engineering - Nonmetallic Materials
• Principal Investigator: Flávio Camargo Cabrera
• Grantee: Camila Gabrieli de Claudio Castro
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Engenharia e Ciências (FEC). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Rosana. Rosana , SP, Brazil

Abstract

This research project will be developed by the student Camila Gabrieli de Claudio Castro at Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP), Campus de Rosana - SP. This project includes concepts related to solar energy. The main objective is to increase the efficiency and useful life of photovoltaic modules, avoiding degradation due to the aging process or delamination of the ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) layers that protect (encapsulate) the solar cells. With the yellowing of the EVA layers, the degree of transmittance is impaired, reducing the efficiency of photovoltaic cells. Then, we proposed to replace the EVA layers with a layer of polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) with the incorporation of mesoporous silica nanoparticles. PDMS (silicone) can be deposited directly on the surface of the plates, presenting fast cure, transparent in the region of interest and chemical inertness. SiO2 nanostructures have the ability to absorb ultraviolet (UV) radiation, minimizing the adverse effects of this radiation on the encapsulants.