In last few years, solar cells have become widely used in aerospace applications as a sustainable alternative fuels, supporting the global goal of achieving zero carbon emissions by 2070. Solar panels harvest sunlight and convert it into electrical energy through the photovoltaic effect. For space application key selection parameters for solar cells include efficiency, thickness and weight. Typically, cells are integrated in arrays on the aircraft’s wing surface and connected through Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT) systems to optimize energy output. These cells are manufactured using various materials, such as monocrystalline silicon and gallium arsenide (GaAs), each offering different levels of efficiency. Standard cell dimensions are 125*125 mm, requiring multiple units to be installed across the wing surface. To mount the cells precisely without compromising their performance, specialized encapsulation materials are used. Maintaining a dust-free and highly transparent top surface is critical to achieving the rated efficiency of the solar cells. Several encapsulating materials are available for this purpose, including transparent epoxy resins, Ethylene Vinyl Acetate (EVA), transparent Tedlar film, and Ethylene Tetrafluoroethylene (ETFE) film. ETFE, produces from a copolymer of ethylene and Tetrafluoroethylene using a melt extrusion casting process, offers excellent optical clarity and durability. It can be heat-sealed, thermoformed, and laminated directly onto solar cells, making it highly suitable for aerospace solar application. ETFE is a high-transparency, durable film used as a protective layer in solar modules. The 25-micron thick ETFE film used in this research was sourced from Textile Coated Industries (TCI)USAc.
Sapna Tripathi (Fri,) studied this question.