Semi-Transparent Energy-Harvesting Solar Concentrator Windows Employing Infrared Transmission-Enhanced Glass and Large-Area Microstructured Diffractive Elements

• Main Authors: Mikhail Vasiliev, Kamal Alameh, Mohsin Ali Badshah, Seok-Min Kim, Mohammad Nur-E-Alam
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2018-08-01
• Series: Photonics
• Subjects: solar windows; advanced glazings; diffractive elements; light trapping; photovoltaics
• Online Access: http://www.mdpi.com/2304-6732/5/3/25

We report on the study of energy-harvesting performance in medium-size (400 cm2) glass-based semitransparent solar concentrators employing edge-mounted photovoltaic modules. Systems using several different types of glazing system architecture and containing embedded diffractive structures are prepared and characterized. The technological approaches to the rapid manufacture of large-area diffractive elements suitable for use in solar window-type concentrators are described. These elements enable the internal deflection and partial trapping of light inside glass-based concentrator windows. We focus on uncovering the potential of pattern-transfer polymer-based soft lithography for enabling both the improved photon collection probability at solar cell surfaces, and the up-scaling of semitransparent solar window dimensions. Results of photovoltaic characterization of several solar concentrators employing different internal glazing-system structure and diffractive elements produced using different technologies are reported and discussed.