Critical Encapsulant Materials for Commercial and Emerging Solar Cells: Performance, Challenges, and Perspectives

Yuting Ouyang; Jizhi Ai; Siyuan Li; Min Xiao; Dongmei Han; Sheng Huang; Shuanjin Wang

Abstract

Solar energy, as a clean and renewable resource, plays a pivotal role in the global energy landscape due to mitigate environmental pollution and resource depletion. Photovoltaic (PV) modules, which enable efficient photoelectric conversion, are critically dependent on encapsulant materials to ensure long-term reliability and performance. However, these materials often limit the lifespan of solar cells under harsh outdoor conditions. This review systematically examines the performance, challenges, and future trends of mainstream and emerging encapsulant materials for crystalline silicon solar cells, N-type high-efficiency crystalline silicon solar cells (e.g., HJT, TOPCon, IBC), and perovskite solar cells (PSCs). It elaborates on the classification, the advantages, disadvantages and application areas, key performance indicators (e.g., barrier properties, adhesion strength) and practical industrial challenges of materials such as ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer (EVA), polyolefin elastomers (POE), polyvinyl butyral (PVB), and thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU). The analysis underscores the importance of developing high-performance, durable, and sustainable encapsulation solutions to support the advancement of PV technology. This work aims to provide a comprehensive reference for the research and development of next-generation photovoltaic modules with enhanced efficiency and lifespan.

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