Bright Prospects for Photovoltaics

Bayer MaterialScience is committed to developing sustainable technologies and materials, particularly when it comes to utilizing energy from renewable sources such as the sun and wind.

With photovoltaics (PV), for example, the focus is on customer-specific solutions featuring higher energy efficiency, lower manufacturing costs and a broader range of applications. “The current development portfolio offers a variety of innovations, including polyurethane sheathing for solar modules with an integrated assembly system, a sandwich composite of polycarbonate sheets with solar cells, and flexible solar modules with higher efficiency,” says Dr. Frithjof Hannig, who is responsible for the coordination of photovoltaics activities at Bayer MaterialScience.

Innovations and visions with thermoplastic films

At present, crystalline solar cells are leading the way worldwide in terms of solar technology. These are encapsulated by Platilon® hot-melt adhesive films made of thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU), which have proved to be superior to other materials used for the same purpose. This is particularly true of their flexibility in bonding with relatively hard materials such as polycarbonate and glass. The TPU film facilitates continuous, vacuum-free processing without cross-linking and, therefore, also without emissions. “This is a clear advantage in terms of productivity in the manufacture of photovoltaic modules. What’s more, the film can be recycled and enables complete solar modules to be repaired,” adds Hannig.