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Title: Properties of Encapsulated CIGS Cells in 85 degrees C/85%RH

Abstract

This paper concerns studies of encapsulated cells subjected to an environment of 85ºC and 85%RH (85/85). Cells are encapsulated with PNNL multi-layer coatings (referred to as PML coatings) utilizing alternating layers of Al2O3, and an advanced polymer. The new polymer has been determined to withstand the 85/85 environment. Two types of cells were used for these studies, namely, SSI mini-modules (which are actually CIGSS devices) and CIGS cells provided by the Institute of Energy Conversion (IEC). Cells were coated and stressed at 85/85 in an environmental chamber. Current-voltage characteristics were acquired before and after coating, and periodically after being subjected to the 85/85 environment. Whereas coated SSI modules were determined to last 1000 hours when stressed at 60ºC/90%RH without degradation, the efficiency of these modules degrade to a level of 60% of the beginning-of-life value when stressed at 85/85. Encapsulated IEC cells, however, have exhibited extraordinary results. The efficiency of several encapsulated cells did not decrease for 1500 hours in an 85ºC/85%RH environment. This results establishes a benchmark for stressed, encapsulated CIGS cells.

Authors:
; ; ;
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
Pacific Northwest National Lab. (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States)
Sponsoring Org.:
USDOE
OSTI Identifier:
972940
Report Number(s):
PNNL-SA-60866
830403000; TRN: US201005%%380
DOE Contract Number:  
AC05-76RL01830
Resource Type:
Conference
Resource Relation:
Conference: The 33rd IEEE Photovoltaic Specialists Conference, PVSC '08, May 11-16, San Diego, California, 676-678
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
14 SOLAR ENERGY; COPPER SELENIDE SOLAR CELLS; INDIUM SELENIDE SOLAR CELLS; GALLIUM SELENIDES; ENCAPSULATION; HUMIDITY; TEMPERATURE DEPENDENCE; PERFORMANCE TESTING; CIGS Solar Cells; Barrier Coatings; Moisture Barriers; Encapsulation

Citation Formats

Olsen, Larry C, Gross, Mark E, Kundu, Sambhu N, and Shafaman, William N. Properties of Encapsulated CIGS Cells in 85 degrees C/85%RH. United States: N. p., 2010. Web. doi:10.1109/PVSC.2008.4922498.
Olsen, Larry C, Gross, Mark E, Kundu, Sambhu N, & Shafaman, William N. Properties of Encapsulated CIGS Cells in 85 degrees C/85%RH. United States. https://doi.org/10.1109/PVSC.2008.4922498
Olsen, Larry C, Gross, Mark E, Kundu, Sambhu N, and Shafaman, William N. 2010. "Properties of Encapsulated CIGS Cells in 85 degrees C/85%RH". United States. https://doi.org/10.1109/PVSC.2008.4922498.
@article{osti_972940,
title = {Properties of Encapsulated CIGS Cells in 85 degrees C/85%RH},
author = {Olsen, Larry C and Gross, Mark E and Kundu, Sambhu N and Shafaman, William N},
abstractNote = {This paper concerns studies of encapsulated cells subjected to an environment of 85ºC and 85%RH (85/85). Cells are encapsulated with PNNL multi-layer coatings (referred to as PML coatings) utilizing alternating layers of Al2O3, and an advanced polymer. The new polymer has been determined to withstand the 85/85 environment. Two types of cells were used for these studies, namely, SSI mini-modules (which are actually CIGSS devices) and CIGS cells provided by the Institute of Energy Conversion (IEC). Cells were coated and stressed at 85/85 in an environmental chamber. Current-voltage characteristics were acquired before and after coating, and periodically after being subjected to the 85/85 environment. Whereas coated SSI modules were determined to last 1000 hours when stressed at 60ºC/90%RH without degradation, the efficiency of these modules degrade to a level of 60% of the beginning-of-life value when stressed at 85/85. Encapsulated IEC cells, however, have exhibited extraordinary results. The efficiency of several encapsulated cells did not decrease for 1500 hours in an 85ºC/85%RH environment. This results establishes a benchmark for stressed, encapsulated CIGS cells.},
doi = {10.1109/PVSC.2008.4922498},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/972940}, journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Tue Feb 16 00:00:00 EST 2010},
month = {Tue Feb 16 00:00:00 EST 2010}
}

Conference:
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