Luminescent solar concentrator is transparent, colorless, doesn't block the view

Aug. 20, 2014
A team of researchers at Michigan State University has developed a luminescent solar concentrator that is completely transparent in the visible region, allowing windows be used to collect solar energy with no change in appearance.

A team of researchers at Michigan State University (East Lansing, MI) has developed a luminescent solar concentrator that is completely transparent in the visible region, allowing windows to be used to collect solar energy with no change in appearance.1

Cell phones and other devices are also potential targets for the technology.

A luminescent solar concentrator (LSC) is a pane of doped transparent material; incoming sunlight excites the dopant, which re-emits light that is mostly conducted via total internal reflection to the edge of the pane, where photovoltaic cells convert the light to electrical power.

The dopant in conventional LSCs is tinted, often bright yellow or red, making the concentrator unsuitable for use as a window. The dopants in the new LSC only absorb light in the UV and near-IR regions (emitting it as IR), which makes the device colorless in appearance.

This ain't no disco

"No one wants to sit behind colored glass," says Richard Lunt, one of the researchers. "It makes for a very colorful environment, like working in a disco."

The new LSC uses small organic molecules developed as dopants by Lunt and his team.

"It opens a lot of area to deploy solar energy in a nonintrusive way," Lunt says. "It can be used on tall buildings with lots of windows or any kind of mobile device that demands high aesthetic quality like a phone or e-reader. Ultimately we want to make solar harvesting surfaces that you do not even know are there."

Lunt says more work is needed in order to improve the efficiency of the LSC. Currently it has a solar-conversion efficiency close to 1%; the researchers aim to produce efficiencies beyond 5%. The best colored LSC to date has an efficiency of around 7%.

Source: http://msutoday.msu.edu/news/2014/solar-energy-that-doesnt-block-the-view/

REFERENCE:

1. Yimu Zhao et al., Advanced Optical Materials (2014); doi: 10.1002/adom.201400103

About the Author

John Wallace | Senior Technical Editor (1998-2022)

John Wallace was with Laser Focus World for nearly 25 years, retiring in late June 2022. He obtained a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering and physics at Rutgers University and a master's in optical engineering at the University of Rochester. Before becoming an editor, John worked as an engineer at RCA, Exxon, Eastman Kodak, and GCA Corporation.

Sponsored Recommendations

Digitizer system available in seven different models

Nov. 26, 2023
The Star-Hub digitizer system can be used with any cards from the M5i.33xx PCIe digitizer family.

High-speed cameras offer UV-extended capability

Nov. 25, 2023
The Phantom T3610, T2410, and TMX high-speed cameras (TMX 7510/6410/5010) are available in a UV variant.

Linear voice coil motors offer peak force of 2.20 N

Nov. 24, 2023
The LVCM-013-032-02M and LVCM-013-032-02 are 12.7 mm diameter linear voice coil motors.

Image sensor has use in home and professional security

Nov. 23, 2023
The OS08C10 image sensor features both staggered high dynamic range (HDR) and single exposure dual analog gain (DAG).

Voice your opinion!

To join the conversation, and become an exclusive member of Laser Focus World, create an account today!