Transparent Solar Panels Will Turn Windows Into Green Energy Collectors

Nice work except that organics do oxidize and become colored and present yield is a miserable one percent.  Do not get excited about seeing this for sale soon.  However thay are on a good track and it may surprise us.

A moderate jump in yield and real longitivity will allow a huge market to be served that is already installed.

If it can actually pick up much of the spectrum that damages organics as well, they may kill two birds with one stone..

Transparent Solar Panels Will Turn Windows Into Green Energy Collectors 

http://www.arch2o.com/transparent-solar-panels-will-turn-windows-into-green-energy-collectors/

A team of researchers from Michigan State University managed to develop a fully transparent solar panel – a breakthrough that could lead to countless applications in architecture, as well as other fields such as mobile electronics or the automotive industry. Previous attempts to create such a device have been made, but results were never satisfying enough, with low efficiency and poor material quality.

Researcher Yimu Zhao holding up a transparent luminescent solar concentrator module – Photography: Yimu Zhao

The MSU team emphasized on the see-through factor. They developed a transparent luminescent solar concentrator, or TLSC, that can be placed over a window or any other clear surface. The concentrator can harvest solar energy without affecting light transmittance. The technology uses organic molecules which absorb wavelengths of light that are invisible to the human eye, like infrared and ultraviolet light.

A transparent luminescent solar concentrator waveguide is shown with colorful traditional luminescent solar concentrators in the background. The new LSC can create solar energy but is not visible on windows or other clear surfaces – Courtesy of Michigan State University, Photography: G.L. Kohuth

“We can tune these materials to pick up just the ultraviolet and the near infrared wavelengths that then ‘glow’ at another wavelength in the infrared” – Richard Lunt, assistant professor of chemical engineering and materials science at MSU’s College of Engineering. The captured light is transported to the contour of the panel, where it is converted to electricity with the help of thin strips of photovoltaic solar cells.

Yimu Zhao, a doctoral student in chemical engineering and materials science, and Richard Lunt, assistant professor of chemical engineering and materials science – Photography: Photo by G.L. Kohuth

This development would make the most out of the buildings’ facades, since the vertical footprint is often larger than the rooftop one – especially for glass towers. Solar harvesting would, thus, become more efficient and aesthetical, without altering the architectural design. Moreover, this technology could be easily integrated in old buildings.

“The Future is Clear” – Video Courtesy of Michigan State University

Currently the team is working on improving the energy-producing efficiency, that is of 1 % at the moment. The aim is to reach an efficiency beyond 5%. As aforementioned, if developments work, applications would be countless. Members of MSU’s research team include Yimu Zhao, Benjamin Levine and Garrett Meek.

By: Ana Cosma