A bending test protocol for characterizing the mechanical performance of flexible photovoltaics

Fukuda K, Sun L, Du B, Takakuwa M, Wang J, Someya T, Marsal LF, Zhou Y, Chen Y, Chen H, Silva SRP, Baran D, Castriotta LA, Brown TM, Yang C, Li W, Ho-Baillie AW, Österberg T, Padture NP, Forberich K, Brabec CJ, Almora O

Publication Type: Journal article

Journal

DOI: 10.1038/s41560-024-01651-2

Abstract

Flexible photovoltaic (PV) devices are a promising research field with potential for wearable, portable, indoor and internet-of-things applications. Substantial progress has been made in recent years, with flexible emerging PVs reporting power conversion efficiencies (PCEs) of over 24%. Yet, there is a need for a unifying protocol to assess PV performance, compare research results, and evaluate state-of-the-art achievements in flexible PVs. Here we present a protocol for measuring PCE over 1,000 bending cycles under 1% strain. Moreover, several good practice guidelines are proposed, including those related to bending procedures, flexibility testing with and without encapsulation, and ambient conditions during testing (for example, temperature, humidity and illumination). Notably, the importance of the uniform application of the bending radius and the testing of parallel and perpendicular orientations of the bending axis with respect to the direction of the electric current are emphasized. These recommendations aim to promote consistency in device comparison and allow for better reproducibility.

Authors with CRIS profile

Involved external institutions

Huazhong University of Science & Technology China (CN) Zhejiang University China (CN) University of Surrey United Kingdom (GB) Riken Institute of Physical and Chemical Research / 理化学研究所 Japan (JP) King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) / جامعة الملك عبد الله للعلوم و التقنية Saudi Arabia (SA) Università degli Studi di Roma 'Tor Vergata' Italy (IT) Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology (UNIST) / 울산과학기술원 Korea, Republic of (KR) Beijing University of Chemical Technology China (CN) Forschungszentrum Jülich / Research Centre Jülich (FZJ) Germany (DE) RIKEN Center for Emergent Matter Science (CEMS) Japan (JP) University of Tokyo Japan (JP) University of Sydney (USYD) Australia (AU) Eidgenössische Technische Hochschule Zürich (ETHZ) / Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich Switzerland (CH) Universitat Rovira i Virgili (URV) Spain (ES) Epishine AB Sweden (SE) Nanchang University (NCU) / 南昌大学 China (CN)

How to cite

APA:

Fukuda, K., Sun, L., Du, B., Takakuwa, M., Wang, J., Someya, T.,... Almora, O. (2024). A bending test protocol for characterizing the mechanical performance of flexible photovoltaics. Nature Energy. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41560-024-01651-2

MLA:

Fukuda, Kenjiro, et al. "A bending test protocol for characterizing the mechanical performance of flexible photovoltaics." Nature Energy (2024).

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