Sona Ulicna

About

Soňa Uličná's research focus is on reliability of module packaging materials for conventional and emerging photovoltaic (PV) technologies and their interaction with the solar cell. She performs material characterization using thermal analysis, spectroscopy, microscopy, and X-ray based techniques to identify degradation mechanisms in module materials after accelerated indoor and outdoor aging. Prior to PV reliability, Soňa worked on fabrication and characterization of thin-film solar cells including CIGS, CdTe, and perovskites. After earning her PhD degree from Loughborough University, she joined SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, where she used the Stanford Synchrotron Radiation Lightsource to gain understanding of how changes in material crystal structure affect PV performance.

Work

EPFL
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Scientist

Switzerland

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National Renewable Energy Laboratory
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Postdoctoral Researcher

US

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SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory

US

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Education

Loughborough University
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

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PhD

Ecole Nationale Superieure des Arts et Metiers
France

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Diplome d'ingenieur

Loughborough University
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

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MSc

Publications

PVDF-based backsheet cracking: Mapping in situ phase evolution by X-ray scattering

Published by

Solar Energy Materials and Solar Cells

Summary

journal-article

Photovoltaic cable jackets A comparison of representative products using combined-accelerated stress testing

Published by

Solar Energy Materials and Solar Cells

Summary

journal-article

Photovoltaic Cable Connectors: A Comparative Assessment of the Present State of the Industry

Published by

IEEE Journal of Photovoltaics

Summary

journal-article

Material characterization of seven photovoltaic backsheets using seven accelerated test conditions

Published by

Solar Energy Materials and Solar Cells

Summary

journal-article

Measuring metal halide perovskite single cell degradation consistent with module-based conditions

Published by

Sustainable Energy & Fuels

Summary

journal-article

Quantifying optical loss of high‐voltage degradation modes in photovoltaic modules using spectral analysis

Published by

Progress in Photovoltaics: Research and Applications

Summary

journal-article

PV encapsulant formulations and stress test conditions influence dominant degradation mechanisms

Published by

Solar Energy Materials and Solar Cells

Summary

journal-article

Chemical and mechanical interfacial degradation in bifacial glass/glass and glass/transparent backsheet photovoltaic modules

Published by

Progress in Photovoltaics: Research and Applications

Summary

journal-article

Development of Fixtures and Methods to Assess the Durability of Balance of Systems Components

Published by

IEEE Journal of Photovoltaics

Summary

journal-article

A study of degradation mechanisms in PVDF-based photovoltaic backsheets

Published by

Scientific Reports

Summary

journal-article

Electrochemical degradation modes in bifacial silicon photovoltaic modules

Published by

Progress in Photovoltaics: Research and Applications

Summary

journal-article

Arrhenius Analysis of the Degradation Modes in Emerging Photovoltaic Backsheets

Published by

2022 IEEE 49th Photovoltaics Specialists Conference (PVSC)

Summary

conference-paper

Metastable Dion-Jacobson 2D structure enables efficient and stable perovskite solar cells

Published by

Science

Summary

journal-article

A Comparison of Emerging Nonfluoropolymer-Based Coextruded PV Backsheets to Industry-Benchmark Technologies

Published by

IEEE Journal of Photovoltaics

Summary

journal-article

Glass/glass photovoltaic module reliability and degradation: a review

Published by

Journal of Physics D: Applied Physics

Summary

journal-article

Failure Analysis of a New Polyamide-Based Fluoropolymer-Free Backsheet After Combined-Accelerated Stress Testing

Published by

IEEE Journal of Photovoltaics

Summary

journal-article

Assessing UV-Induced Degradation in Bifacial Modules of Different Cell Technologies

Published by

2021 IEEE 48th Photovoltaic Specialists Conference (PVSC)

Summary

conference-paper

BACKFLIP: Identification of Materials and Changes Upon Aging of Emerging Fluoropolymer-Free and Industry-Benchmark PV Backsheets

Published by

2021 IEEE 48th Photovoltaic Specialists Conference (PVSC)

Summary

conference-paper

Sodium doping of solution‐processed amine‐thiol based CIGS solar cells by thermal evaporation of NaCl

Published by

Progress in Photovoltaics: Research and Applications

Summary

journal-article

Study of the crystal structure of SnS thin films by atomic layer deposition

Published by

AIP Advances

Summary

journal-article

Degradation of Hydrophobic, Anti-Soiling Coatings for Solar Module Cover Glass

Published by

Energies

Summary

journal-article

Abrasion resistance of hydrophobic, anti-soiling coatings for solar cover glass

Published by

2020 47th IEEE Photovoltaic Specialists Conference (PVSC)

Summary

conference-paper

Outdoor Testing of Anti-Soiling Hydrophobic Coatings: Observations of Cementation

Published by

2020 47th IEEE Photovoltaic Specialists Conference (PVSC)

Summary

conference-paper

Testing the Durability of Anti-Soiling Coatings for Solar Cover Glass by Outdoor Exposure in Denmark

Published by

Energies

Summary

journal-article

Extrinsic Doping of Amine-Thiol Solution-Processed Cu(In,Ga)(S,Se)<sub>2</sub> Thin Film Photovoltaics

Published by

2019 IEEE 46th Photovoltaic Specialists Conference (PVSC)

Summary

conference-paper

Solution-processing of Cu(In,Ga)(S,Se)2 solar cells from metal chalcogenides: aspects of absorber crystallisation and interface formation

Summary

dissertation-thesis

Solution-processing of Cu(In,Ga)(S,Se)2 solar cells from metal chalcogenides: aspects of absorber crystallisation and interface formation

Summary

dissertation-thesis

Deposition and application of a Mo–N back contact diffusion barrier yielding a 12.0% efficiency solution-processed CIGS solar cell using an amine–thiol solvent system

Published by

Journal of Materials Chemistry A

Summary

journal-article

Electronic properties of solution-processed Cu(In,Ga)(S,Se)2 solar cells using metal chalcogenides and amine-thiol solvent mixtures

Published by

2018 IEEE 7th World Conference on Photovoltaic Energy Conversion (WCPEC) (A Joint Conference of 45th IEEE PVSC, 28th PVSEC &amp; 34th EU PVSEC)

Summary

conference-paper

Exploring metastable defect behavior in solution-processed antimony doped CIGS thin film solar cells

Published by

2018 IEEE 7th World Conference on Photovoltaic Energy Conversion (WCPEC) (A Joint Conference of 45th IEEE PVSC, 28th PVSEC &amp; 34th EU PVSEC)

Summary

conference-paper

Scalable Deposition of High-Efficiency Perovskite Solar Cells by Spray-Coating

Published by

ACS Applied Energy Materials

Summary

journal-article

An innovative approach for fabrication of Cu2ZnSnSe4 absorber layers using solutions of elemental metal powders

Published by

Thin Solid Films

Summary

journal-article

Solution processing of CuIn(S,Se)2 and Cu(In,Ga)(S,Se)2 thin film solar cells using metal chalcogenide precursors

Published by

Thin Solid Films

Summary

journal-article

Control of Mose2 formation in hydrazine-free solution-processed CIS/CIGS thin film solar cells

Published by

2017 IEEE 44th Photovoltaic Specialist Conference (PVSC)

Summary

conference-paper

Variation of Cu Content of Sprayed Cu(In, Ga)(S,Se)<sub>2</sub> Solar Cells Based on a Thiol-Amine Solvent Mixture

Published by

2017 IEEE 44th Photovoltaic Specialist Conference (PVSC)

Summary

conference-paper

Development of ZnTe as a back contact material for thin film cadmium telluride solar cells

Published by

Vacuum

Summary

journal-article

Sona Ulicna