EVA reinforced with graphene nanoparticles, nano zinc oxide and bacterial cellulose for improved photovoltaic encapsulation

Abstract

This study explores a new way to improve ethylene–vinyl acetate (EVA), a widely used material in solar panel encapsulation, by reinforcing it with a combination of graphene nanoplatelets (GNP), nano-zinc oxide (n-ZnO), and bacterial cellulose (BC). While previous research has studied EVA with single or two-component fillers, this work is the first to use this specific three-part (ternary) nanofiller system to enhance the performance of EVA for photovoltaic (PV) applications. The developed composites (EVA1–EVA3) were tested using a range of techniques, including FTIR, TGA, DSC, SEM, UV–Vis, and mechanical testing. Among the samples, the EVA3 formulation showed the best overall performance. Its tensile strength improved by 32.6 %, rising from 18.7 ± 0.4 MPa to 24.8 ± 0.7 MPa, while the water vapor transmission rate (WVTR) dropped by over 70 %, indicating much better moisture resistance. The thermal degradation temperature increased from 300.2 °C to 340.3 °C, and the glass transition temperature also improved, suggesting better stability under heat. Optical testing showed EVA3 maintained high visible light transmittance (82.5 % at 600 nm) and blocked UV radiation below 400 nm—both important features for solar energy use. Spectroscopic analysis confirmed strong interactions between EVA and the fillers, and statistical tests (ANOVA, F-test) verified that the improvements were scientifically meaningful (p < 0.01). Together, these results show that using a carefully balanced combination of GNP, n-ZnO, and BC can significantly improve the durability, stability, and efficiency of EVA films. This makes EVA3 a strong candidate for next-generation solar panel encapsulation materials.