Solar photovoltaic performance with antireflective polymeric covers

This chapter investigates antireflective (AR) polymers such as polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) and Teflon fluorinated ethylene propylene (FEP) as an alternative to glass covers for solar photovoltaic (PV) modules. Layering antireflective polymers on the solar cell is expected to improve transmission, PV irradiance absorption, and module performance within the visible light wavelength. Their remarkable qualities contribute to the resolution of scattering losses from the glass cover, resulting in a rise in optical performance from 90% to 94%. Geometry modeling is performed using computer-aided design (CAD) software (SolidWorks), and the optical performance of the PV cell is assessed using Monte Carlo ray tracing studies with the software TracePro. Furthermore, ultraviolet–visible (UV–Vis) spectroscopy is performed to determine the transmissivity of the polymers used in the study. Further investigation of all-optical performance is performed under four conditions: bare cell, cell with glass cover, cell with FEP, and cell with PDMS polymers for respective electrical output. Furthermore, polymeric-layered samples have higher electrical power production and light irradiance transmittance, as demonstrated by ray tracing and practical testing. PDMS and FEP polymers get an initial voltage of 0.592 and 0.588 V, respectively, while naked solar cells receive 0.591 V. As time passes, the electrical output drops while the temperature of each sample rises. The bare cell shows the biggest temperature difference (15℃), while the glass covers the lowest, barely 5℃. Tempered glasses are described as poor thermal conductors as the glass with cells begins at 0.584 V and with the lowest electrical output. When light irradiance is 2167 W/m 2 , the electrical output of bare cells, PDMS, and FEP samples exceeds that of glass, reaching 0.621, 0.621, and 0.622 V, respectively. To summarize, cells with polymeric covers produce more power with increased irradiation than cells with glass covers.