# US 2018/0323323 A1 · Polymer sheet > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2018/0323323 A1 - Document ID: US20180323323A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 16/033,359 - Filed: 2018-07-12 - Published: 2018-11-08 - Earliest claimed: 2012-05-16 - Assignees: Borealis AG - Applicants: Borealis AG - Inventors: Johan Willy Declerck; Koen Hasaers; Kristof Proost - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20180323323A1 ## CPC - H10F 77/45: Wavelength conversion means, e.g. by using luminescent material, fluorescent concentrators or up-conversion arrangements - B32B 17/10018: {comprising only one glass sheet} - B32B 17/10669: {Luminescent agents} - B32B 17/10697: {being cross-linked} - B32B 17/10788: {containing ethylene vinylacetate} - B32B 27/08: of synthetic resin - B32B 27/20: using fillers, pigments, thixotroping agents - B32B 27/306: {comprising vinyl acetate or vinyl alcohol (co)polymers} - B32B 27/32: comprising polyolefins {(comprising vinyl (co)polymers or acrylic (co)polymers B32B27/30)} - H10F 19/80: Encapsulations or containers for integrated devices, or assemblies of multiple devices, having photovoltaic cells - H10F 19/804: {Materials of encapsulations} - H10F 19/807: {Double-glass encapsulation, e.g. photovoltaic cells arranged between front and rear glass sheets} - H10F 19/85: Protective back sheets - Y02E 10/52: PV systems with concentrators - H10F: INORGANIC SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES SENSITIVE TO INFRARED RADIATION, LIGHT, ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION OF SHORTER WAVELENGTH OR CORPUSCULAR RADIATION - B32B: LAYERED PRODUCTS, i.e. PRODUCTS BUILT-UP OF STRATA OF FLAT OR NON-FLAT, e.g. CELLULAR OR HONEYCOMB, FORM - Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION ## Abstract The invention is directed to a polymer sheet and its use as part of a solar panel and glass element. The sheet comprises multiple coextruded polymer layers, wherein at least two or more layers of the polymer sheet comprise a luminescence downshifting compound for at least partially absorbing radiation having a certain wavelength and re-emitting radiation at a longer wavelength than the wavelength of the absorbed radiation, and wherein a luminescence downshifting compound in a first polymer layer can absorb more radiation at a lower wavelength than the luminescence downshifting compound present in a next layer. ## Claims ### Claim at position 1 -45 (canceled) ### Claim 46 A polymer sheet composition comprising at least two coextruded polymer layers, wherein at least one of the coextruded polymer layers comprises a luminescence downshifting compound for at least partially absorbing radiation having a certain wavelength and re-emitting radiation at a longer wavelength than the wavelength of the absorbed radiation, and wherein at least one of the coextruded polymer layers comprises (i) a polymethylmethacrylate or an alkylmethacrylate, and/or (ii) an alkylacrylate copolymer, functionalized polyolefins, ionomers; or mixtures thereof ### Claim 47 (depends on 46) The polymer sheet of claim 46, wherein a luminescence downshifting compound is present in a first polymer layer, and wherein the luminescence downshifting compound can absorb more radiation at a lower wavelength than the luminescence downshifting compound present in a second polymer layer. ### Claim 48 (depends on 46) The polymer sheet of claim 46, wherein the radiation comprises UV radiation. ### Claim 49 (depends on 46) The polymer sheet of claim 46, wherein the sheet comprises two outer polymer layers and at least one inner polymer layer and wherein an outer polymer layer or both outer polymer layers has a melting point T1 which at least 10° C. below the melting point T2 of at least one inner polymer layer. ### Claim 50 (depends on 49) The polymer sheet of claim 49, wherein at least one of the outer polymer layers comprises a silane coupling agent. ### Claim 51 A method for making a polymer sheet, comprising the steps of: (i) providing one or more master batch polymer materials for each polymer layer, and (ii) co-extruding the master batch polymer materials to layers forming the polymer sheet; wherein at least one of the layers comprises a luminescence downshifting compound for at least partially absorbing radiation having a certain wavelength and re-emitting radiation at a longer wavelength than the wavelength of the absorbed radiation, and wherein at least one of the polymer layers comprises (i) a polymethylmethacrylate or an alkylmethacrylate, and/or (ii) an alkylacrylate copolymer, functionalized polyolefins, or mixtures thereof. ### Claim 52 (depends on 51) The method of claim 51, wherein the polymer materials are extruded at an extrusion temperature for each sub-layer so chosen that the largest difference in melt flow index of the polymers of the sublayers at the extrusion temperature as applied for each sub-layer is lower than 3 MFI points. ### Claim 53 (depends on 46) An element comprising: (i) two layers of glass, and (ii) a transparent polymer layer comprising a polymer sheet of claim 46, wherein the transparent polymer layer is present between the two layers of glass. ### Claim 54 (depends on 53) The element of claim 53, wherein the glass of the glass layer is a borosilicate glass or a soda lime glass. ### Claim 55 (depends on 53) The element of claim 53, wherein the total thickness of the glass element is less than 5 mm, and/or wherein at least one of the glass layers has a thickness of between 0.1 and 2 mm. ### Claim 56 (depends on 53) A method for changing the properties of sun light in the process of growing plants, the method comprising: placing an element of claim 53 between the sun light and a plant, wherein the composition alters the sun light to which the plant is exposed. ### Claim 57 (depends on 53, 56) The method of claim 56, wherein the element of claim 53 is present on the roof of a greenhouse. ### Claim 58 (depends on 53) A method for changing the properties of sun light in a process of generating electricity, the method comprising: exposing an element of claim 53 to sun light, wherein in the presence of sun light, the composition generates an electric current. ### Claim 59 (depends on 53, 58) The method of claim 58, wherein the element of claim 53 further comprises a photovoltaic cell. ### Claim 60 (depends on 53) A photovoltaic module comprising: (i) a layer comprising a photovoltaic cells, and (ii) a cover layer comprising the element of claim 53, and optionally wherein the photovoltaic cell is a thin film cadmium telluride photovoltaic cell. ### Claim 61 (depends on 53) A photovoltaic solar cell comprising: (i) an element of claim 53, (ii) a transparent electrode layer, (iii) an n-type semiconductor layer, (iv) a cadmium telluride absorber layer, and (v) a back contact. ### Claim 62 (depends on 46) A method for enhancing the performance of a photovoltaic cell, the method comprising: placing a polymer sheet of claim 46 between sun light and a photovoltaic cell, wherein the polymer sheet causes luminescent downshifting of sunlight, thereby enhancing the performance of the photovoltaic cell. ### Claim 63 (depends on 46) A solar panel comprising (i) a polymer sheet of claim 46, and (ii) a photovoltaic cell. ### Claim 64 (depends on 63) The solar panel of claim 63, wherein the panel has a layer sequence of a glass layer, the polymer sheet, the photovoltaic cell, an encapsulant layer and a back sheet. ### Claim 65 (depends on 46) A method for manufacturing a solar panel, the method comprising: (i) providing a stack comprising the following layers: (a) a glass layer, (b) a polymer sheet of claim 46, (c) a layer comprising a photovoltaic cell, (d) a polymer encapsulant layer, and (e) a glass layer, and (ii) exposing the stack to an elevated lamination temperature, thereby manufacturing a solar panel. ### Claim 66 (depends on 65) The method of claim 65, wherein the lamination temperature is between 115 and 175° C. and wherein the environment of the stack has a pressure of less than 30 mBar.