Photovoltaic

Solar energy, the energy of the future

Photovoltaics: clean and renewable energy

Sunlight is a clean and renewable source of energy which already has many industrial and domestic thermal applications. It can be trapped and converted by a photovoltaic cell, a kind of diode made up in part of two layers of crystalline silicon, a semi-conductor material, to produce electricity.

Arkema’s contribution: protecting the silicon and the electrical circuits

Arkema’s Evatane® technical polymers, a range of ethylene vinyl acetate resins with a high vinyl acetate content, ensure the adhesion and effective protection of the silicon and the electrical circuits. Crosslinked with Luperox® organic peroxides, they feature excellent transparency and help maintain over time the performance of the photovoltaic cell.

Arkema’s contribution: optimizing the yield of photovoltaic cells

Arkema’s Kynar® PVDF, used for the manufacture of the film serving as the cells’ backsheet, combines a number of characteristics that are key to the longevity and the yield of photovoltaic cells: ease of processing, resistance to moisture and temperature variations, and stability of the white color which helps reflect the light toward the silicon.