Grants and Contributions:

Grant or Award spanning more than one fiscal year. (2017-2018 to 2018-2019)

Photovoltaic (PV) solar cells, which convert sunlight directly into electrical power, is the most sustainable andx000D
clean energy technology available up to date. Tremendous efforts and investment have been made to developx000D
more efficient and affording PV solar cells to promote a wider use of solar cells. A typical solar cell isx000D
comprised of front contact (busbars and fingers) to collect electrons, which occupy about 9-10% of the PVx000D
module. The busbars and fingers are made of metals such as silver, aluminum or copper, which are notx000D
transparent and reflect a significant portion of sunlight, reducing the sun light harvesting and thus the efficiencyx000D
(~2%) of a PV module.x000D
Canadian Solar, a world leader in the PV industry (the third largest in the world), been investing heavily on thex000D
development and adoption of new technologies that can improve their products. In this proposed project, Prof.x000D
Yuning and Canadian Solar will work together to develop a technology to minimize improve the PV modulex000D
efficiency by utilizing a sunlight redirecting film on the front contacts. Two approaches will be explored. Thex000D
first one is based on the special microstructured surface of the polymer film, which will reflect ad redirect mostx000D
of the sunlight to the active area. The second approach will use a polymer film, which contain nanoparticlesx000D
that will scatter the sunlight to the surface of the active cell area.x000D
The new solar PV panels developed through this collaboration will promote a wider use of solar PV in Canada,x000D
which will contribute to less fossil fuel consumption and reduced CO2 emission in Canada, and the bettermentx000D
of the lives of Canadians.