Ultraviolet (UV) light can gradually degrade modern crystalline‑silicon solar cells and modules. In practical terms, this can translate into measurable efficiency and power losses over time, and in harsh test conditions the impact can be more pronounced. Despite being widely observed, the field still does not fully agree on what changes first inside the ultra‑thin functional and protective layers of a cell under UV exposure. Proposed explanations include UV‑driven chemical bond breaking and changes in charge transport through these thin layers. Progress has been limited partly because many earlier studies did not track degradation layer‑by‑layer, or did not test devices under consistent, application‑relevant operating conditions (e.g., under electrical load versus open‑circuit). This makes it difficult to reliably predict real‑world performance loss and recovery.
In this project, you will have the opportunity to work with a senior researcher (Jessica Yajie Jiang) and Professor Martin Green, and to join a small, supportive team comprising junior staff and postgraduate students. Together, you will plan and carry out well‑controlled UV exposure and recovery experiments, and use clear, step‑by‑step measurements to identify which layers change first, how changes accumulate over time, and what operating or environmental conditions make the degradation better or worse—capturing behaviour that better reflects real outdoor use.
Aim of the Project:
To develop a clear and practical understanding of why UV exposure causes performance loss in modern silicon solar cells, and to translate that understanding into tested mitigation strategies—from the cell level through to the full module. This may include evaluating options such as UV‑management front glass (e.g., UV‑blocking anti‑reflective glass) and improved thin functional layers (e.g., TiOx) that help maintain high performance while improving long‑term stability.
School
Photovoltaic and Renewable Energy Engineering
Research Area
Photovoltaics and solar energy materials | PV module reliability and degradation
Suitable for recognition of Work Integrated Learning (industrial training)?
No
- Research environment
- Expected outcomes
- Supervisory team
- Reference material/links
The project will be conducted in a research‑intensive environment with strong expertise in photovoltaics, thin‑film processes, surface/optical characterisation, and module‑level reliability testing. Facilities support controlled UV exposure and recovery studies, optical metrology, surface and materials analysis, and accelerated ageing relevant to PV modules. Collaboration opportunities with PV industry partners and national/international PV networks will support translation of findings to industry‑relevant testing and practical mitigation pathways.
- A mechanistic understanding of UV‑induced degradation (UVID) in next‑generation silicon solar cells and module stacks, including identification of dominant pathways (e.g., photo‑oxidation, defect creation/passivation changes, and interfacial reactions) and how these depend on UV dose, temperature, humidity, and oxygen availability.
- Quantitative correlations between UVID‑related material/optical signatures and device/module performance impacts (e.g., transmittance changes, encapsulant discolouration behaviour, and power‑loss/recovery trends), supported by controlled ageing experiments and fit‑for‑purpose diagnostics.
- Practical mitigation recommendations derived from evidence‑based screening and comparison of materials and interfaces (e.g., encapsulants, glass/interlayers, and thin functional layers), with surface treatments/coatings considered where relevant as one option among multiple mitigation routes.
- Training outcomes: capability building in reliability‑oriented experimental design, accelerated testing, and advanced characterisation/diagnostics for PV degradation mechanisms.
Primary Supervisor: Dr. Yiyu Zeng
Expert in photovoltaic materials and devices, with a strong track record in PV module reliability. Provides overall leadership for the project, including strategic direction, experimental design, and translation of research outcomes to module‑ and system‑level performance metrics.
Co‑Supervisor: Jessica Yajie Jiang
Specialist in thin‑film/optical coating deposition and optical modelling. Provides technical guidance on interface and stack design and process optimisation, and brings strong industry connections to support practical problem‑solving, manufacturability considerations, and industry‑relevant validation pathways.