Study on performance degradation and damage modes of thin-film photovoltaic cell subjected to particle impact

• DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-80879-w
• Publication Date: 2021-01-12T19:24:12Z
• Authors: Kailu Xiao; Xianqian Wu; Xuan Song; Jianhua Yuan; Wenyu Bai; Chenwu Wu; Chenguang Huang
• Keywords: Degradation; Particle (ecology)

Abstract It has been a key issue for photovoltaic (PV) cells to survive under mechanical impacts by tiny dust. In this paper, the performance degradation and damage behavior of PV subjected massive dust impact are investigated using laser-shock driven particle experiments modeling. The results show that light-electricity conversion efficiency decreases with increasing velocity particles’ number density. drops from 26.7 3.9% 40 185 m/s densities 35 150/mm 2 , showing reduction up 85.7% when being compared intact ones 27.2%. A damage-induced (DCED) model is developed validated experiments, providing an effective method in predicting various conditions. Moreover, three modes, including damaged conducting grid lines, fractured cell surfaces, bending effects after observed, corresponding strength each mode quantified different theories.