Solar energy conversion device made of non-toxic, non-rare, and high-transparency materials.
| Patent title | Device and realisation method of luminescent solar concentrators based on silicon nanostructures |
|---|---|
| Thematic area | Climate, Energy and Mobility |
| Ownership | CONSIGLIO NAZIONALE DELLE RICERCHE, ALMA MATER STUDIORUM - UNIVERSITA' DI BOLOGNA |
| Inventors | VITTORIO MORANDI, MARIA CONCETTA CANINO, Raffaello Mazzaro, Francesco Romano, Antonino Arrigo, Paola Ceroni, Giacomo Bergamini |
| Protection | Europe |
| Licensing status | Available for development agreements, option, license and other exploitation agreements |
| Keywords | Luminescent, solar, concentrators, photovoltaics, silicon nanostructures, non-toxic, transparent |
| Filed on | 21 February 2017 |
As known, the search for abundant and renewable energy sources is one of the most ambitious technological objectives.
Currently, 85% of the total energy consumed on Earth comes from fossil fuels, with the well-known consequences on global warming and human health. The search for alternative energy sources has therefore become a necessity. Sunlight is the most economical, most evenly distributed, abundant and renewable energy source on Earth.
Different types of solar concentrators have been designed to integrate photovoltaic panels into architectural elements such as windows or walls, but they have limitations in terms of efficiency of the conversion of sunlight and transparency of the device.
The invention is a device for converting solar energy into power energy through a transparent polymeric panel containing silicon nanostructures; a solar cell is coupled on the edge of the plate.
Silicon nanostructures are capable of converting unnecessary and harmful ultraviolet light into visible light which is absorbed to generate electricity through the solar cell.
This approach allows to exploit the area of the polymeric sheet thus generating a high quantity of electric energy if compared to the area of the cell itself, with a higher efficiency.
The invention can be applied in windows and transparent walls. The application fields are architecture, sustainable building and construction, to encourage the use of renewable resources in energy production.
Among the advantages of this technology:
- the high transparency and the excellent color rendering index;
- the simple system of encapsulating the nano material and the compatibility with the polymerization process;
- the low toxicity of the material used and the ease of production;
- the high availability of silicon.