3D Printing and Easy Removal of Transparent Thin Polymeric Sheets and their Application in Solar Cells Encapsulation

3D printing of thin transparent sheets is challenging because transparency is compromised due to surface defects. In this study, we demonstrate the 3D printing of thin, transparent, and smooth polymeric surfaces with easy removal, with potential application in solar cell encapsulation. Thin disc-shaped objects were printed using a vat-photopolymerization-based 3D-printing technique, and their transparency was measured. The discs were printed directly onto the build plate in three different orientations, whereas a modified build plate was used for each sample. The sample printed on the modified build plate exhibited the highest transparency (∽95%) and was the easiest to remove from the plate. Thin and transparent sheets were prepared with embedded TiO2 nanoparticles using this approach. TiO2 addition blocks the ultraviolet-light wavelengths of 200–400 nm, which could reduce phonon generation in silicon solar cells and, thus, lower the panel surface temperature. The results demonstrate an 8 °C reduction in temperature, which could enhance the efficiency of silicon photovoltaics. The proposed method demonstrates the capability of 3D printing of transparent, smooth surfaces with easy removal of thin objects for various applications.