On-site identification of the material composition of PV modules with mobile spectroscopic devices

Abstract

With the increased development of portable and handheld molecular spectrometers within recent years, new fields of applications have opened up, such as their use (i) for material identification of samples contained in large and non-portable components and (ii) the detection of material degradation effects and failures directly in the plant. The usability and transferability of well-established analytical characterization techniques, such as attenuated total reflection (ATR) Infrared (IR)-, Raman, and Near-Infrared (NIR)-spectroscopy as mobile devices for the in-field characterization of Photovoltaic (PV) modules, are described and discussed. Material identification of the polymeric compounds incorporated in the PV modules (encapsulants, backsheets) is often an important task, especially when degradation and failures occur. Whereas the knowledge of the bill of materials is one challenge, the detection of material degradation effects is another important issue. Both tasks can be solved nondestructively by the application of mobile spectrometers. Raman spectroscopy is the best-suited method for the identification of the encapsulant within the module (measurement through 3-mm glass), while NIR measurements allowed for the nondestructive determination of the composition of the multilayer backsheet. Surface degradation effects (e.g., oxidation, hydrolysis) are best detectable with IR-spectroscopy. The application of mobile devices allows for direct material analysis in the field without dismantling PV modules, transporting them to the lab, cutting them in smaller pieces, and analyzing them in conventional bench-top spectrometers.