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US 11,688,818 B2Granted
Transparent energy-harvesting devices
AssigneeBoard of Trustees of Michigan State University
InventorsRichard R. Lunt, III, Yimu Zhao
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An energy harvesting system is provided. The energy harvesting system includes a waveguide, a luminophore embedded in the waveguide, and a solar photovoltaic array or a solar photovoltaic cell coupled to the waveguide. The energy harvesting system is visibly transparent, having an average visible transmittance of greater than about 50% and a color rendering index of greater than about 80 at normal incidence to the waveguide.
Claims20
An energy harvesting system comprising:
- a waveguide including a top surface, a bottom surface, and an edge surface, the waveguide configured to receive sunlight through the top surface, the bottom surface, or both the top surface and the bottom surface;
- a luminophore embedded in or disposed on the waveguide, the luminophore being a cyanine or salt thereof, a squarylium, a carbon nanotube, a thiacarbocyanine or salt thereof, a naphthalocyanine or derivative thereof, a phthalocyanine or derivative thereof, a phorphyrin, or a combination thereof;
- and
- a segmented solar photovoltaic array disposed onto a top surface of the waveguide, disposed onto a bottom surface of the waveguide, or embedded within the waveguide,
- wherein the energy harvesting system is visibly transparent, having an average visible transmittance of sunlight of greater than about 50% and a color rendering index of sunlight of greater than about 80 referenced to the AM1.5G spectrum at normal incidence to the waveguide.
2 more elements
An energy harvesting system comprising:
- a waveguide comprising a visibly transparent glass or plastic, the waveguide including a top surface, a bottom surface, and an edge surface, the waveguide configured to receive sunlight through the top surface, the bottom surface, or both the top surface and the bottom;
- a luminophore embedded in or disposed on the waveguide, the luminophore having a strongest peak absorbance of light at a wavelength of greater than about 650 nm, a strongest peak emission of light at a wavelength of greater than about 650 nm, and no peak absorption of light in the visible spectrum, the luminophore being a cyanine or salt thereof, a squarylium, a carbon nanotube, a thiacarbocyanine or salt thereof, a naphthalocyanine or derivative thereof, a phthalocyanine or derivative thereof, a phorphyrin, or a combination;
- and
- a segmented solar photovoltaic array disposed on a top surface of the waveguide, disposed on a bottom surface of the waveguide, or embedded within the waveguide,
- wherein the energy harvesting system is visibly transparent, having an average visible transmittance of sunlight of greater than about 50% and a color rendering index of sunlight of greater than about 80 referenced to the AM1.5G spectrum at normal incidence to the waveguide.
2 more elements
An energy harvesting system comprising:
- a waveguide comprising a visibly transparent glass or plastic;
- a luminophore embedded in the waveguide, the luminophore having a strongest peak absorbance of light at a wavelength of greater than about 650 nm, a strongest peak emission of light at a wavelength of greater than about 650 nm, and no peak absorption of light in the visible spectrum, the luminophore being a squarylium, a carbon nanotube, a thiacarbocyanine or salt thereof, a naphthalocyanine or derivative thereof, a phthalocyanine or derivative thereof, or a combination thereof;
- and
- a solar photovoltaic cell coupled to an edge of the waveguide,
- wherein the energy harvesting system is visibly transparent, having an average visible transmittance of sunlight of greater than about 50% and a color rendering index of sunlight of greater than about 80 referenced to the AM1.5G spectrum at normal incidence to the waveguide.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.