Influence of Ti Layers on the Efficiency of Solar Cells and the Reduction of Heat Transfer in Building-Integrated Photovoltaics
This study examined the potential application of metallic coatings to mitigate the adverse effects of ultraviolet (UV) and infrared (IR) light on photovoltaic modules. Titanium coatings were applied on low-iron glass surfaces using magnetron sputtering at powers of 1000, 1250, 1500, 1750, 2000, and...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2024-10-01
|
| Series: | Energies |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/17/21/5327 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1846173492446232576 |
|---|---|
| author | Paweł Kwaśnicki Dariusz Augustowski Agnieszka Generowicz Anna Kochanek |
| author_facet | Paweł Kwaśnicki Dariusz Augustowski Agnieszka Generowicz Anna Kochanek |
| author_sort | Paweł Kwaśnicki |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | This study examined the potential application of metallic coatings to mitigate the adverse effects of ultraviolet (UV) and infrared (IR) light on photovoltaic modules. Titanium coatings were applied on low-iron glass surfaces using magnetron sputtering at powers of 1000, 1250, 1500, 1750, 2000, and 2500 W. The module with uncoated glass served as a reference. The Ti layer thickness varied from 7 nm to 20 nm. Transmittance and reflectance spectra were used to calculate visible light transmittance <i>L<sub>t</sub></i>, UV light transmittance <i>L<sub>tuv</sub></i>, solar transmittance <i>g</i>, and visible light reflectance <i>L<sub>r</sub></i>. The obtained parameters indicated that the thinnest Ti layer (1000 W) coating did not significantly affect light transmittance, but thicker layers did, altering the <i>L<sub>t</sub></i>, <i>g</i>, and <i>L<sub>r</sub></i> factors. However, every sample noticeably changed <i>L<sub>tuv</sub></i>, probably due to the natural formation of a UV-reflective thin TiO<sub>2</sub> layer. The differences in fill factor (<i>FF</i>) were minimal, but thicker coatings resulted in lower open-circuit voltages (<i>U<sub>oc</sub></i>) and short-circuit currents (<i>I<sub>sc</sub></i>), leading to a reduction in power conversion efficiency (<i>PCE</i>). Notably, a Ti coating deposited at 2500 W reduced the power of the photovoltaic module by 78% compared to the uncoated sample but may protect modules against the unwanted effects of overheating. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-eda44f4ddc7d464098ae1e3534c58f38 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1996-1073 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-10-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Energies |
| spelling | doaj-art-eda44f4ddc7d464098ae1e3534c58f382024-11-08T14:35:19ZengMDPI AGEnergies1996-10732024-10-011721532710.3390/en17215327Influence of Ti Layers on the Efficiency of Solar Cells and the Reduction of Heat Transfer in Building-Integrated PhotovoltaicsPaweł Kwaśnicki0Dariusz Augustowski1Agnieszka Generowicz2Anna Kochanek3Research & Development Centre for Photovoltaics, ML System S.A., Zaczernie 190G, 36-062 Zaczernie, PolandResearch & Development Centre for Photovoltaics, ML System S.A., Zaczernie 190G, 36-062 Zaczernie, PolandDepartment of Environmental Technologies, Cracow University of Technology, 31-155 Kraków, PolandFaculty of Engineering, State University of Applied Sciences in Nowy Sącz, 33-300 Nowy Sącz, PolandThis study examined the potential application of metallic coatings to mitigate the adverse effects of ultraviolet (UV) and infrared (IR) light on photovoltaic modules. Titanium coatings were applied on low-iron glass surfaces using magnetron sputtering at powers of 1000, 1250, 1500, 1750, 2000, and 2500 W. The module with uncoated glass served as a reference. The Ti layer thickness varied from 7 nm to 20 nm. Transmittance and reflectance spectra were used to calculate visible light transmittance <i>L<sub>t</sub></i>, UV light transmittance <i>L<sub>tuv</sub></i>, solar transmittance <i>g</i>, and visible light reflectance <i>L<sub>r</sub></i>. The obtained parameters indicated that the thinnest Ti layer (1000 W) coating did not significantly affect light transmittance, but thicker layers did, altering the <i>L<sub>t</sub></i>, <i>g</i>, and <i>L<sub>r</sub></i> factors. However, every sample noticeably changed <i>L<sub>tuv</sub></i>, probably due to the natural formation of a UV-reflective thin TiO<sub>2</sub> layer. The differences in fill factor (<i>FF</i>) were minimal, but thicker coatings resulted in lower open-circuit voltages (<i>U<sub>oc</sub></i>) and short-circuit currents (<i>I<sub>sc</sub></i>), leading to a reduction in power conversion efficiency (<i>PCE</i>). Notably, a Ti coating deposited at 2500 W reduced the power of the photovoltaic module by 78% compared to the uncoated sample but may protect modules against the unwanted effects of overheating.https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/17/21/5327titanium coatingsolar cellphysical vapour depositionmagnetron sputteringphotovoltaicsbuilding-integrated photovoltaic |
| spellingShingle | Paweł Kwaśnicki Dariusz Augustowski Agnieszka Generowicz Anna Kochanek Influence of Ti Layers on the Efficiency of Solar Cells and the Reduction of Heat Transfer in Building-Integrated Photovoltaics Energies titanium coating solar cell physical vapour deposition magnetron sputtering photovoltaics building-integrated photovoltaic |
| title | Influence of Ti Layers on the Efficiency of Solar Cells and the Reduction of Heat Transfer in Building-Integrated Photovoltaics |
| title_full | Influence of Ti Layers on the Efficiency of Solar Cells and the Reduction of Heat Transfer in Building-Integrated Photovoltaics |
| title_fullStr | Influence of Ti Layers on the Efficiency of Solar Cells and the Reduction of Heat Transfer in Building-Integrated Photovoltaics |
| title_full_unstemmed | Influence of Ti Layers on the Efficiency of Solar Cells and the Reduction of Heat Transfer in Building-Integrated Photovoltaics |
| title_short | Influence of Ti Layers on the Efficiency of Solar Cells and the Reduction of Heat Transfer in Building-Integrated Photovoltaics |
| title_sort | influence of ti layers on the efficiency of solar cells and the reduction of heat transfer in building integrated photovoltaics |
| topic | titanium coating solar cell physical vapour deposition magnetron sputtering photovoltaics building-integrated photovoltaic |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/17/21/5327 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT pawełkwasnicki influenceoftilayersontheefficiencyofsolarcellsandthereductionofheattransferinbuildingintegratedphotovoltaics AT dariuszaugustowski influenceoftilayersontheefficiencyofsolarcellsandthereductionofheattransferinbuildingintegratedphotovoltaics AT agnieszkagenerowicz influenceoftilayersontheefficiencyofsolarcellsandthereductionofheattransferinbuildingintegratedphotovoltaics AT annakochanek influenceoftilayersontheefficiencyofsolarcellsandthereductionofheattransferinbuildingintegratedphotovoltaics |