Electrical characterization of electrophoretically coated aluminum samples for photovoltaic concentrator application

Technical Report · Thu Oct 01 04:00:00 EDT 1992

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/10187348· OSTI ID:10187348

Sugimura, R S; Mon, G R; Ross, Jr, R G ^[1]

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1. Jet Propulsion Lab., Pasadena, CA (United States)

The practicality of using a thin-film styrene/acrylate copolymer electrophoretic coating to isolate concentrator cells electrically from their surroundings in a photovoltaic concentrator module is assessed. Only the electrical isolation problem was investigated. The approach was to subject various types of EP-coated aluminum specimens to electrical stress testing and to aging tests while monitoring coating electrical resistivity properties. It was determined that, in general, longer processing times--i.e., thicker electrophoretic layers--resulted in better voltage-withstand properties. In particular, a two-minute processing time seemed sufficient to provide the electrical isolation required in photovoltaic concentrator application applications. Even though electrophoretic coatings did not seem to fill voids in porous-anodized aluminum substrates, breakdown voltages generally exceeded hi-pot pass-fail voltage levels with a comfortable margin. 6 refs, 11 figs, 5 tabs.

• Research Organization: Sandia National Labs., Albuquerque, NM (United States); Jet Propulsion Lab., Pasadena, CA (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: AC04-76DP00789
• OSTI ID: 10187348
• Report Number(s): SAND--92-7294; ON: DE93003229
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

14 SOLAR ENERGY
140501
36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
360606
ALUMINIUM OXIDES
BREAKDOWN
COATINGS
CONCENTRATOR SOLAR CELLS
COOLING
COPOLYMERS
ELECTRICAL PROPERTIES
ELECTROPHORESIS
PHOTOVOLTAIC CELLS
PHOTOVOLTAIC CONVERSION
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
SOLAR CONCENTRATORS
SUBSTRATES