Highly transparent light-harvesting window film

Semi-Transparent Energy-Harvesting Solar Concentrator Windows Employing Infrared Transmission-Enhanced Glass and Large-Area Microstructured Diffractive Elements

We report on the study of energy-harvesting performance in medium-size (400 cm2) glass-based semitransparent solar concentrators employing edge-mounted photovoltaic modules. Systems using several different types of glazing system architecture and containing embedded diffractive structures are prepared and characterized. The technological approaches to the rapid manufacture of large-area diffractive elements suitable for use in solar window-type concentrators are described. These elements enable the internal deflection and partial trapping of light inside glass-based concentrator windows. We focus on uncovering the potential of pattern-transfer polymer-based soft lithography for enabling both the improved photon collection probability at solar cell surfaces, and the up-scaling of semitransparent solar window dimensions. Results of photovoltaic characterization of several solar concentrators employing different internal glazing-system structure and diffractive elements produced using different technologies are reported and discussed.

Nanostructured antireflective in-plane solar harvester

In this work, we demonstrate a two-dimensional nano-hole array that can reduce reflection losses while passively trapping and harvesting incident light. The surface structure is designed to scavenge a small portion of incident light that would typically be lost due to Fresnel reflection, while the majority of light transmits unobstructed like a regular window. The trapping mechanism is dependent on angle and wavelength, and can be designed to selectively trap narrow wavelength bands using the constructed theoretical models. We demonstrate that structures with periods of 275 nm and 325 nm can trap different wavelength range within the visible spectrum, while simultaneously suppressing reflection losses. The trapping effect can be observed visually, and can be converted to a current output using a photovoltaic (PV) cell on the glass edge. The fabrication of such materials employs a simple replication process, and can be readily scaled up for large-scale manufacturing. The demonstrated solar harvester can be potentially be widely deployed in residential and commercial buildings as multifunctional windows for solar energy harvesting, scavenging, spectra splitting, and anti-glare properties.

Photonic microstructures for energy-generating clear glass and net-zero energy buildings

Transparent energy-harvesting windows are emerging as practical building-integrated photovoltaics (BIPV), capable of generating electricity while simultaneously reducing heating and cooling demands. By incorporating spectrally-selective diffraction gratings as light deflecting structures of high visible transparency into lamination interlayers and using improved spectrally-selective thin-film coatings, most of the visible solar radiation can be transmitted through the glass windows with minimum attenuation. At the same time, the ultraviolet (UV) and a part of incident solar infrared (IR) radiation energy are converted and/or deflected geometrically towards the panel edge for collection by CuInSe2 solar cells. Experimental results show power conversion efficiencies in excess of 3.04% in 10 cm × 10 cm vertically-placed clear glass panels facing direct sunlight, and up to 2.08% in 50 cm × 50 cm installation-ready framed window systems. These results confirm the emergence of a new class of solar window system ready for industrial application.