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Luminescent UV-cured polyurethane acrylates boost silicon solar cell efficiency
A novel UV-cured coating converts ultraviolet light into visible light, increasing the power conversion efficiency of silicon-based solar cells.
Silicon solar cells absorb ultraviolet light poorly, limiting their energy output. A team led by Ya-jie Zhang has developed UV-cured polyurethane acrylate (PUA-Y) coatings with down-shifting luminescence that convert UV radiation into visible light, better matched to silicon absorption.
The system combines a weather-resistant PUA prepolymer, the UV absorber RUVA-93, and the luminescent europium complex Eu(LA)₃Phen. The optimised formulation PUA-Y2 achieved 89 % transparency, increased short-circuit current by 8 % and improved power conversion efficiency (PCE) from 4.71 % to 5.62 %. UV absorption efficiency was enhanced by around 50 %.
Reading tip: Functional Coatings
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Organic coatings for photovoltaic applications
These findings demonstrate that tailored organic coatings can broaden the spectral response of silicon solar cells and provide a cost-effective route to improved photovoltaic performance.
Source: Zhang, Y. et al. Preparation and application of the novel UV-curable polyurethane acrylate coatings with down-shifting luminescence. Prog. Org. Coat. 207, 109428 (2025).
