Role of spatial correlation on the performance of colored photovoltaic modules with integrate disordered media

Abstract

Colored photovoltaic (PV) modules with integrated disordered coatings exhibit attractive potential for generating renewable electricity. However, most existing studies on these modules rely on the assumption that the disordered coatings are random systems, neglecting the effects of spatial correlation. In this work, we thoroughly investigate the effects of spatial correlation on the color properties and performance of colored PV modules with integrated disordered coatings, using the full-wave electromagnetic simulation techniques. Our findings indicate that increasing the degree of spatial correlation results in a sharper and narrower reflectance peak, while having a negligible impact on the peak position. This trend suggests that the spatial correlation offers an alternative strategy for producing more vivid color, although it is less effective in expanding the color range. On the other hand, the spatial correlation has little impact on the power conversion efficiency (PCE) of PV modules. Therefore, it is feasible to produce colored PV modules with more vivid colors without significantly affecting the PCE by simply adjusting the degree of spatial correlation.