Australian researchers have identified five contaminants that can increase cells and modules due to humid heat-induced demolition in Topcon and heterojunction. Their analysis has shown that these contaminants can arise from incorrect treatment during cell or module processing.
Researchers from the University of New South Wales (UNSW) in Australia have identified five different “hidden contaminants” that may be induced in solar cells and modules induced relegation (DP) design (Topcon) or heterojunction).
‘HJT and Topcon are much more sensitive to contaminants, even miniscule handling drops can destroy the efficiency buyers and increase guarantee risks, ”said the corresponding author of the research, Bram Hoex, said PV -Magazine. “Solar cell handling can lead to damp heat defects along the line.”
De wetenschappers identificeerden met name vijf verontreinigingen – natrium (NA), calcium (Ca), magnesium (mg), chloor (CL) en zwavel (s) – en zeiden dat hun aanwezigheid zou kunnen voortkomen uit onjuiste behandeling tijdens cel- of module -verwerking, zoals contact met vervuilde handschoenen, cassettes, cassettes, of vacuümgrippers.
They emphasized that these contaminants can be deposited on cell surfaces or collecting areas before the encapsulation step of the module and have an impact on passion strokes and cell metallization or in the case of HJT products on transparent guided oxides (TCOs) and Amorf silicon (A-Si).
The research team performed a series of vapor heat (DH) tests with Glass-Backsheet Topcon, HJT and Perc-Zonnemodules encapsulated with Ethylene Vinylacetate (EVA). The panels were produced between 2019 and 2024 and delivered by unknown manufacturers.
The analysis showed that the perc modules “remained largely” unaffected, while both the top cone and the HJT panels suffered considerable power losses.
“We have discovered that invisible contaminants matter,” Hoex explained. ‘Traces ofCa, MG, CL and S introduced during routine handling caused 10-16 % loss of power in HJT and Topcon Glass-Backsheet Mini modules after 1,000 hours at 85 C/85 % Relative humidity. “
However, he also emphasized that “failure signatures differ”, where HJT cells show open circuit voltage and short-circuit losses due to higher recombination, and topcon offenders who have an increase of 41% in series resistance.
“Under moist heat testing conditions, these contaminants probably react chemically with moisture,” Hoex added. “This reaction may have promoted the recombination of cargo carrier in HJT cells and metal contact corrosion in topcon cells, exaggerating the breakdown of performance.”
To prevent these breakdown risks, the academics recommend oneDopt Clean-As-You-Go protocols such as fresh nitrile gloves, cleaned cassettes and vacuum grabbers, as well as a rapid rinse of DI-water and N₂ dry before inputs if necessary.
‘When these steps were implemented, both HJT and TOPcon cells remained stable under the same moist heating stress, and subsequent production batches did not show localized failures, “concluded Hoeex.”The mitigation protocol is cheap and immediately usable, so that manufacturers can keep lighter glass-backsheet designs without resorting to expensive glass glass or exotic Encapsulantia. “
The research results are available in the study “Hidden traces: Insight into how solar cell treatment stimulates damp errors in HJT and Topcon modules“Published in Solar energy materials and solar cells.
Previous research by UNSW pale Relegation mechanisms of industrial-concon-zonnemodules encapsulated with ethylene vinylacetate (EVA) under accelerated damp conditionsAs well as the vulnerability of Topcon sun cells to contact corrosion and three types of Topcon sun module disruptions that were never detected in perc panels. In addition, UNSW scientists investigated the breakdown of topcon sun cells induced by sodium under exposure to moisture heating.
In addition, another UNSW study recently assessed the impact of soldering flux on heterojunction sun cells and discovered that the composition of this component is the key to prevent important cracks and significant peeling.
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