Photovoltaic module backsheets are characterized according to their thermal, optical, mechanical, and technical properties. This work introduces new fabricated backsheets for PV modules using polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) reinforced with short sugar palm fiber (SSPF) composites. The preparation of composites undergoes multiple phases of fabrication. Thermal, optical, and technical investigations of their properties were conducted. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), Raman spectroscopy, in-situ scanning probe microscopy (SPM), dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA), thermal mechanical analysis (TMA), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and prolonged technical testing were accomplished to expansively understand the complex behavior of composites under various conditions. The optical properties of PV backsheets are critical components in determining the reflectance, absorbance, and transmittance of light. The PVDF–SSPF composites exhibited exceptional compatibility and thermal stability, further revealing a homogenous composite structure with enhanced interfacial bonding between the short fiber and polymer matrix.

This work features the properties and the common industrial applications of two thermoplastic polymers which are the Polyvinyl fluoride (PVF) and the Polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF), the polymerization and the manufacturing processes of their monomers have been emphasized in this work. It is believed that these two materials are having a number of shared properties and applications. Their distinguishing characteristics allow them to be utilized in various applications with immense interest to the industrial world. They excel, converge, and slightly diverge in most of their properties with diverse transition phases as well as piezoelectric and pyroelectric effects. Their eminent properties qualify them to be used in a number of industrial and outdoor applications e.g. insulations, sensing materials, laminations, encapsulations, coatings, membranes, biomaterials, aircraft interiors and photovoltaic applications. In conclusion, this work recommends further in-depth analysis to investigate the correlations between these two polymers and to provide oriented numerical information on their performance.

Polyvinyl fluoride (PVF) is a distinctive polymer with excessively studied properties. The wide utilization of this polymer has dramatically escalated due to its outstanding properties (e.g., mechanical strength, chemical resistance, high stability, low permeability, indoor functionality, outdoor durability, light transmissibility, adherence, stain resistance, sunlight degradation, and high temperature endurance). An overview of the chemical, physical, electrical, and thermal properties of PVF is provided. The current applications of PVF/Tedlar®, its polymerization, and the manufacturing processes are also addressed in this work. A comparative analysis has been conducted to explore common and uncommon properties of PVF, fluoropolymers, and competing polymers such as polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF), polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), and polyvinyl chloride (PVC). Overall, PVF is anticipated to have further promising manufacturing prospects in numerous industries and in various fields such as in medical equipment, renewable energy applications, sensitive devices, advanced industrial platforms, and nanotechnology material composites. Therefore, further in-depth analyses and oriented numerical information on the performance of this polymer are required.

Photovoltaic backsheets have considerable impact on the collective performance of solar cells. Material components should withstand certain temperatures and loads while maintaining high thermal stability under various weather conditions. Solar modules must demonstrate increased reliability, adequate performance, safety, and durability throughout the course of their lifetime. This work presents a novel solar module. The module consists of an innovative polyvinylidene fluoride-short sugar palm fiber (PVDF-SSPF) composite backsheet within its structure. It was electrically and thermally evaluated. The current-voltage characteristics (I-V) were obtained using the solar module analyzer, PROVA 210PV. A thermal evaluation was accomplished using a temperature device, SDL200. The thermal test consisted of two different assessments. The first targeted the surface and backsheet of the developed module to correlate their performance from within. The second assessment compared the thermal performance of the fabricated backsheet with the conventional one. Both tests were combined into a heatmap analysis to further understand the thermal performance. Results revealed that the developed module exhibited reasonable electrical efficiency, achieving appropriate and balanced I-V curves. PVDF-SSPF backsheets proved to be thermally stable by displaying less heat absorbance and better temperature shifts. Additional research efforts are highly encouraged to investigate other characteristics. To enhance performance, further analyses are needed such as the damp heat analysis, accelerated aging analysis, and heat dissipation phenomena.