Antireflective coating using a WO3–TiO2 nanoparticle photocatalytic composition for high efficiency thin-film Si photovoltaic modules

• Published in: Solar energy materials and solar cells Vol. 121; pp. 108 - 113
• Main Authors: Noh, Hee Nam, Myong, Seung Yeop
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier B.V 01.02.2014; Elsevier
• Subjects: Antireflective coating; Applied sciences; Chemistry; Coating; Direct energy conversion and energy accumulation; Electrical engineering. Electrical power engineering; Electrical power engineering; Energy; Equipments, installations and applications; Exact sciences and technology; General and physical chemistry; Modules; Nanoparticle phtotocatalyst; Nanostructure; Natural energy; Outdoor; Photocatalysis; Photochemistry; Photoelectric conversion; Photovoltaic cells; Photovoltaic conversion; Physical chemistry of induced reactions (with radiations, particles and ultrasonics); Self-cleaning; Silicon substrates; Solar cells; Solar cells. Photoelectrochemical cells; Solar energy; Superhydrophilicity; Thin films; Thin-film silicon photovoltaic module; Self-cleaning; Nanoparticle phtotocatalyst; Thin-film silicon photovoltaic module; Antireflective coating; Superhydrophilicity; Performance evaluation; Profitability; Nanoparticle; Outdoor installation; Glass; Nanoporous materials; Field experiment; Thin film; Degradation; Tungsten oxide; Wide band; Photovoltaic array; Field tests; Silicon; Antireflection coating; Low temperature; Damaging; Photocatalysis; Photovoltaic system; Effective temperature; Long term; Coated material; High efficiency; Titanium oxide; Catalyst
• ISSN: 0927-0248; 1879-3398
• DOI: 10.1016/j.solmat.2013.10.038

We propose a cost-effective, low-temperature antireflective coating for the outer glass substrates of 1.43m2 thin-film Si photovoltaic modules using a WO3–TiO2 nanoparticle photocatalyst. The coated nanoporous films provide the broadband antireflective effect, which results in the increased initial performances. Notably, the self-cleaning effect due to the photo-induced superhydrophilicity leads to a significantly reduced outdoor-exposed degradation. Therefore, the drastic energy output gain of 4.3% is achieved for a tandem photovoltaic module via a long-term outdoor field test. •ARC using the WO3–TiO2 nanoparticle photocatalyst is applied to thin-film Si PV modules.•The coated nanoporous films provide the broadband antireflective effect.•The self-cleaning effect due to the photo-induced superhydrophilicity plays an important role.•The energy output gain of 3.6% is obtained for the a-Si:H single-junction PV module via ARC.•The energy output gain of 4.3% is achieved for the a-Si:H/µc-Si:H tandem PV module due to ARC.