Transparent multifunctional cover glass coating for solar energy applications

In photovoltaics, the cover glass module has hitherto not yet been fully optimized for its purpose. Instead quite conventional architectural glass is used. In a recent review of the state-of-the-art on UV down converting dopants [1], a way forward to improve cover glasses was presented. Some of these possibilities, and others are covered in the present paper. We present possibilities to add several functionalities, instead of using dopants in the glass composition, including omnidirectional antireflection, dynamic solar control, and self-cleaning. Omni-directional anti-reflective coatings, were made by colloidal lithography templating methods on iron free glass, realizing nanopillar structures with dimensions /2 exploiting Mie scattering for wide angle light collection (Fig. 1). Yttrium oxyhydride (YHO) coatings were deposited on the nanopillar structures using magnetron sputtering methods [2]. The YHO film blocks UV light and photo-darkens upon solar light absorption and reverts to its transparent state in dark in reproducible manner [2]. In addition, the YHO film also becomes hydrophobic upon photo-darkening, acting as a self-cleaning layer. The fabricated coatings were compared with bare glass substrates. The results reveal suppressed reflectance, with acceptable anti-reflective properties up to about 50 degrees. Solar light modulation of a thin 100 nm YHO coating is below 10% thus having high transmittance throughput while allowing for solar cell life-time saving by removal of excess irradiance. Finally, the surface energy of the YHO coated glass structures are presented, demonstrating synergetic chemical and structural (the Lotus effect), showing promising self-cleaning properties. In conclusion, we show possibilities to combine photonic and chromogenic principles with suitable surface chemistry to achieve high-performance cover glass for solar energy application. .
Funding: Energimyndigheten P2022-00859
Transparenta multifunktionella tunnfilmer på lågjärnglas för solcellsapplikationer
Semi-transparent solcells- och fotokromt smart fönster