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

ABSTRACT: 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.

SUBMITTER: Vasiliev M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4994116 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature