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http://dx.doi.org/10.14579/MEMBRANE_JOURNAL.2015.25.3.287

Low-costBacksheet Materials with Excellent Resistance to Chemical Degradation for Photovoltaic Modules  

Pyo, Se Youn (Energy Engineering Department, Dankook University)
Lee, Chang Hyun (Energy Engineering Department, Dankook University)
Publication Information
Membrane Journal / v.25, no.3, 2015 , pp. 287-294 More about this Journal
Abstract
Photovoltaic (PV) modules are environmentally friendly energy-conversion devices to generate electricity via the photovoltaic effect of semiconductors on solar energy. One of key elements in PV modules is "Backsheet," a multi-layered film to protect the devices from a variety of chemicals including water vapor. A representative Backsheet is composed of polyvinyl fluoride (PVF) and poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET). PVF is relatively expensive, while showing excellent resistance to chemical attacks. Thus, it is necessary to develop alternatives which can lower its high production cost and guarantee lifetime applicable to practical PV modules at the same time. In this study, PET films with certain levels of crystallinity were utilized instead of PVF. Since it is well known that PET is suffering from trans-esterification and hydrolysis under a wide pH range, it is needed to understand decomposition behavior of the PET films under PV operation conditions. To evaluate their chemical decomposition behavior within a short period of times, accelerated decomposition test protocol is developed. Moreover, electrochemical long-term performances of the PV module employing the PET-based Backsheet are investigated to prove the efficacy of the proposed concept.
Keywords
Photovoltaic modules; Backsheet; PVF; PET; Trans-esterification;
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Times Cited By KSCI : 2  (Citation Analysis)
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