# US 12,771,291 B2 · Sunlight harvesting transparent windows

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- Number: US 12,771,291 B2
- Document ID: US12771291B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 18/786,934
- Filed: 2024-07-29
- Published: 2024-11-21
- Granted: 2026-10-20
- Earliest claimed: 2015-03-13
- Assignees: University of Florida Research Foundation, Inc.
- Applicants: University of Florida Research Foundation, Inc.
- Inventors: Jiangeng Xue; Wei David Wei
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12771291B2

## CPC

- H02S 40/22: Light-reflecting or light-concentrating means (directly associated with the PV cell or integrated with the PV cell H10F77/42)
- B32B 3/08: characterised by added members at particular parts {(layer formed of separate pieces of material which are juxtaposed side-by-side B32B3/14, B32B3/18)}
- B32B 7/04: Interconnection of layers
- B32B 17/00: Layered products essentially comprising sheet glass, or glass, slag, or like fibres
- B32B 27/06: as the main or only constituent of a layer, {which is} next to another layer of {the same or of} a {different material (next to a layer of a particular substance B32B9/045; next to a bituminous or tarry layer B32B11/046; next to a water setting substance layer B32B13/12; next to a metal layer B32B15/08; next to a glass layer B32B17/10; next to a layer formed of natural mineral fibres or particles B32B19/045; next to a wood layer B32B21/08; next to a cellulosic plastic layer B32B23/08; next to a natural or synthetic rubber layer B32B25/08)}
- B32B 27/18: characterised by the use of special additives
- B32B 27/20: using fillers, pigments, thixotroping agents
- B32B 27/308: {comprising acrylic (co)polymers}
- B32B 27/365: {comprising polycarbonates}
- B32B 27/40: comprising polyurethanes
- H02S 20/26: Building materials integrated with PV modules, e.g. façade elements (H02S20/25 takes precedence)
- B32B 2250/03: 3 layers
- B32B 2250/40: Symmetrical or sandwich layers, e.g. ABA, ABCBA, ABCCBA
- B32B 2264/105: Metal
- B32B 2307/304: Insulating
- B32B 2307/40: having particular optical properties
- B32B 2307/4026: within the layer by addition of a colorant, e.g. pigments, dyes
- B32B 2307/412: Transparent
- B32B 2307/558: Impact strength, toughness
- B32B 2307/706: Anisotropic
- B32B 2307/732: Dimensional properties
- B32B 2457/12: Photovoltaic modules
- Y02B 10/10: Photovoltaic [PV]
- Y02E 10/52: PV systems with concentrators
- H02S: GENERATION OF ELECTRIC POWER BY CONVERSION OF INFRARED RADIATION, VISIBLE LIGHT OR ULTRAVIOLET LIGHT, e.g. USING PHOTOVOLTAIC [PV] MODULES (obtaining electrical energy from radioactive sources G21H1/12; light sensitive inorganic semiconductor devices H10F; light sensitive organic semiconductor devices H10K30/00; thermoelectric devices H10N10/00; pyroelectric devices H10N15/00)
- B32B: LAYERED PRODUCTS, i.e. PRODUCTS BUILT-UP OF STRATA OF FLAT OR NON-FLAT, e.g. CELLULAR OR HONEYCOMB, FORM
- Y02B: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO BUILDINGS, e.g. HOUSING, HOUSE APPLIANCES OR RELATED END-USER APPLICATIONS
- Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION

## Abstract

A photovoltaic system is formed as a window that is constructed of at least one polymer layer that is filled or decorated with metal nanoparticles and a window frame that includes one or more photovoltaic cells. The metal nanoparticles have a shape and size such that they display surface plasmon resonance frequencies in the near-infrared and/or the near-ultraviolet. The near-infrared and/or the near-ultraviolet radiations are scattered such that they are transmitted parallel to the face of the window to the photovoltaic cells, where an electrical current is generated.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A window, comprising:
a first glass sheet and a second glass sheet, wherein window is configured where visible light travels through a front side of the window, through the first glass sheet and the second glass sheet and out of a backside of the window, and
a combined nanoparticle polymer layer sandwiched between and in contact with the first and second glass sheets to produce a waveguide, the combined nanoparticle polymer layer comprising a transparent polymer layer having a multiplicity of metal nanoparticles dispersed on or within the transparent polymer layer, wherein the multiplicity of metal nanoparticles scatter light energy in at least visible and near-infrared regions of an electromagnetic spectrum, wherein the multiplicity of metal nanoparticles scatter the light energy at the surface plasmon resonance frequency where excitation of the multiplicity of metal nanoparticles surface plasmon oscillation occurs, wherein the metal nanoparticles decorate at least one surface of the combined nanoparticle polymer layer on a plane parallel to large area faces of the window, and
a frame comprising at least one photovoltaic cell configured to harvest laterally scattered light energy from the near-infrared and/or the near-ultraviolet regions of the electromagnetic spectrum, the at least one photovoltaic cell residing in the frame perpendicular to a light receiving face of the window and parallel the waveguide to receive the laterally scattered light energy, wherein the waveguide has an edge where the waveguide meets the frame, wherein the waveguide is configured to direct the light energy to at least one photovoltaic cell in the frame at the edge of the waveguide.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The window according to claim 1, wherein the orientation of the metal nanoparticles is controlled by direct deposition onto at least one of the first glass sheet or the second glass sheet.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The window according to claim 2, wherein the metal nanoparticles are deposited by spin coating or spray coating.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The window according to claim 1, wherein the combined nanoparticle polymer layer is on the first glass sheet and a polymer or polymer precursor is disposed on to at least one of the first glass sheet or the second glass sheet.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The window according to claim 1, wherein the multiplicity of metal nanoparticles are of a plurality of sizes and shapes, wherein a majority of the metal nanoparticles are isolated from each other.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The window according to claim 1, wherein a fraction of the metal nanoparticles in contact is 0.1 or less.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The window according to claim 1, wherein each metal nanoparticle of the multiplicity of metal nanoparticles has a cross-sectional width of 10 to 200 nm.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The window according to claim 1, wherein the metal nanoparticles comprise a metal selected from: ruthenium, rhodium, palladium, osmium, iridium, platinum, rhenium, gold, silver, and copper, and alloys thereof.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The window according to claim 1, wherein the metal nanoparticles comprise a core-shell structure, and wherein the core comprises the metal and the shell is a glass or ceramic.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The photovoltaic system according to claim 9, wherein the glass or ceramic comprises, SiO2, TiO2, Al2O3, SnO2, ZrO2 or any combination thereof.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The window according to claim 1, wherein the combined nanoparticle polymer layer consists of the transparent polymer and the multiplicity of metal nanoparticles, wherein the transparent polymer comprises a polymeric resin or a thermoplastic.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The window according to claim 11, wherein the polymeric resin or thermoplastic comprises an acrylic, a polycarbonate, or a polyurethane.

### Claim 13 (depends on 1)

The window according to claim 1, wherein the photovoltaic cell comprises polycrystalline silicon, monocrystalline silicon, or copper indium gallium selenide.

### Claim 14 (depends on 1)

The window according to claim 1, wherein the multiplicity of metal nanoparticles are spheres, rods, prisms, disks, rice-shaped, shelled, donut-shaped, or any combination thereof.

### Claim 15 (depends on 1)

The window according to claim 1, wherein the multiplicity of metal nanoparticles imparts a tint, a color-neutrality, or a variable light transmittance in the visible spectrum over portions of the window.

### Claim 16 (depends on 1)

The window according to claim 1, wherein in addition to the portion of the near-infrared spectrum, the light energy includes at least one of a portion of the near ultraviolet spectrum and a portion of the visible spectrum that enters the combined nanoparticle polymer sheet is directed through the waveguide to an edge of the waveguide to be received by the at least one photovoltaic cell.

### Claim 17 (depends on 1)

The window according to claim 1, wherein the metal nanoparticles are configured to laterally scatter selected regions of the electromagnetic spectrum to the frame, and the metal nanoparticles are of sizes and shapes that have a peak surface plasmon resonance frequency in near-infrared to near-ultraviolet regions of an electromagnetic spectrum.