Multifunctional UV CurableSol-Gel Organkic Hybrid Nanocomposite Encapsulation System

Innovative approaches are being sought to develop cost-effective and improved encapsulation materials to protect photovoltaic cells/modules from water and oxygen. Current approaches are labor intensive, require manual transfer and assembly, and exhibit the high cost associated with coating/laminating components of multiple sizes. This project will develop a multifunctional, UV-curable, sol-gel-organic, hybrid nanocomposite encapsulation system with excellent water/oxygen barrier, antireflection, superhydrophobic, and ultraviolet (UV) and atomic oxygen (AO) resistant properties. The approach applies encapsulant by direct deposition and can be automated for both rigid and flexible photovoltaic cells/modules, thereby reducing overall costs by 50 percent. In Phase I, a multifunction UV-curable nanocomposite material matrix will be developed and produced by reacting a sol-gel glass and a polymer hybrid matrix. Its performance will be analyzed, and the concept verified by experimental demonstration. Commercial Applications and other Benefits as described by the awardee: The proposed technology should enable the low-cost manufacturing of mass-producible water/oxygen protective barriers for both rigid and flexible photovoltaic cells/modules. The technology also should have commercial application to the protection of organic light emitting displays from oxygen and water, and to abrasion-resistant coatings for sensors, lenses, and vision blocks.