Flexible solar panel bonding area requirements

Will flexible PV panels be commercialized?

With rapid progress in recent years in new material systems, such as organic semiconductors and metal halide perovskites, flexible PV panels are expected to be commercialized in many more future marketable products. Already the revenue share of thin-film cells has exceeded 25% of the total PV market.

What are flexible solar panels?

Along with rapidly advancing battery technology, flexible solar panels are expected to create niche products that require lightweight, mechanical flexibility, and moldability into complex shapes, such as roof-panel for electric automobiles, foldable umbrellas, camping tents, etc.

Are flexible ceramic substrates a good choice for solar panels?

The flexible ceramic substrates have entered the market in recent years and its corresponding solar panels are now under commercial development. However, due to the brittle nature, the flexibility of ceramic substrate is still inferior to metal or plastic.

What is a flexible substrate?

Flexible substrate is one of the fundamental building blocks of flexible photovoltaics. Common flexible substrates for solar cell fabrication reported in literature,1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 are shown in Fig. 4. They can be categorized according to the material they consist of, e.g., metal, ceramic, and plastic substrate.