Presentation Details
| Environmental Effect on the Interfacial Delamination and Critical Energy Release Rate in Thin Film CIGS Solar Cells Avinash P.Brahamanpallyker1, Hansung Kim1. 1Purdue University Northwest, Hammond, IN, USA.2Purdue University Northwest, Hammond, IN, USA |
Abstract
This research investigates delamination in thin-film copper indium gallium selenide (CIGS) solar cells subjected to temperature and humidity exposure. Delamination is a critical reliability issue in thin-film photovoltaic modules, particularly when polymer encapsulants are employed for environmental protection. Understanding the degradation mechanisms under realistic environmental conditions is essential for predicting long-term module performance and durability. CIGS samples with polymer encapsulants were conditioned in an environmental chamber at four conditions: 20.5 °C/54% RH, 20.5 °C/90% RH, 70 °C/54% RH, and 70°C/90% RH. Following conditioning, 90° peel tests measured interfacial adhesion, while tensile tests characterized the mechanical behavior of the encapsulant. The interfacial critical energy release rate was calculated accounting for the plastic deformation of the encapsulant, and empirical regression models were developed to quantify environmental effects. Results show that interfacial adhesion decreases significantly with increasing temperature and humidity. The energy release rate declined from 1326.2 J/m² at 20.5 °C/54% RH to 848.9 J/m² at 70 °C/90% RH, representing a 36% reduction. Temperature exerted a stronger influence than humidity, with the regression coefficient for temperature approximately 10 times larger than that of humidity. Empirical models successfully correlated environmental parameters with energy release rate and mechanical properties, providing predictive tools for reliability assessment. This study confirms that both environmental exposure and nonlinear encapsulant behavior must be considered when evaluating delamination risks in thin-film CIGS modules, offering valuable insights for durability-based photovoltaic design.
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No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the author.
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