In the context of the energy transition, photovoltaic (PV) solar energy represents a growing share of the world's electricity production, and PV itself represents a growing share of the world's energy production. The massive production and deployment of PV modules is putting increasing pressure on the environment. In particular, because of the extraction of the raw materials required for their production and their disposal at the end-of-life. Recycling tackles both of these issues.
PV modules are made of layers of different natures laminated together. In the module central layers, PV cells are embedded in an elastomer, the encapsulant. This material plays several roles: barrier properties, mechanical protection, etc. Currently, the encapsulants used are generally cross-linked EVA copolymers, which makes recycling particularly difficult.
The aim of this thesis is to develop a vitrimer encapsulant for PV applications. Such an encapsulant, with exchangeable bonds, could drastically simplify recycling without compromising the integrity of the module in its lifetime. This work will start with the formulation of the encapsulant. It will go on with the characterization of its properties (thermo-reversibility, rheology and barrier properties), its extrusion into a film and its lamination in a PV module.
This development will be iterative, thus leading to tests under application representative conditions at various stages of development. It will rely on the resources and expertise of three laboratories LCMCP (Sorbonne Université), PIMM (ENSAM) et LITEN (CEA).