Increased Efficiency of Solar Cells Protected by Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Anti-Reflecting Nanostructured Glasses

Baquedano, Estela; Torne, L. I. Van; Caño, Pablo; Postigo, P. A.

doi:10.3390/nano7120437

Cited by 28 publications

(15 citation statements)

References 39 publications

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“…This behavior results from an increased surface roughness that causes diffuse reflectance at the sample surface. The latter increases with decreasing size of the surface structures and therefore grows in importance when the wavelength of the measurement radiation comes in the range of the spatial period of the laser-induced nanostructures [ 57 , 58 ]. However, despite the hierarchical surface structures, the initial high transparency of the fused silica samples was almost completely retained, which is also illustrated by the photograph in Figure 5 b.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Multifunctional Hierarchical Surface Structures by Femtosecond Laser Processing

2018

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Hierarchical surface structures were fabricated on fused silica by using a fs-laser with a pulse duration τ = 300 fs and a wavelength λ = 512 nm. The resulting surface structures were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy and white light interference microscopy. The optical properties were analyzed by transmittance measurements using an integrating sphere and the wettability was evaluated by measuring the water contact angle θ. The silanization of structured fused silica surfaces with trichloro(1H,1H,2H,2H-perfluorooctyl)silane allows to switch the wettability from superhydrophilic (θ = 0°) to superhydrophobic behavior with θ exceeding 150°. It was shown that the structured silica surfaces are a suitable master for negative replica casting and that the hierarchical structures can be transferred to polystyrene. The transmittance of structured fused silica surfaces decreases only slightly when compared to unstructured surfaces, which results in high transparency of the structured samples. Our findings facilitate the fabrication of transparent glass samples with tailored wettability. This might be of particular interest for applications in the fields of optics, microfluidics, and biomaterials.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Multifunctional Hierarchical Surface Structures by Femtosecond Laser Processing

2018

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“…Similarly, Choi et al reported that optimized AR surfaces are composed of moth-eye-patterned polyurethane-acrylate of 300 nm [13]. Baquedano et al assessed the optical and surface properties of nanostructured antireflective solar glass, which saw an increase in transmission and wettability in 1D-and 2D-ordered nanostructures compared to those of disordered nanostructures [14]. Nanostructured moth-eye antireflective surface.…”

Section: Photonic Crystal-based Broadband Antireflective Surfacesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Photonic–Plasmonic Nanostructures for Solar Energy Utilization and Emerging Biosensors

et al. 2020

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Issues related to global energy and environment as well as health crisis are currently some of the greatest challenges faced by humanity, which compel us to develop new pollution-free and sustainable energy sources, as well as next-generation biodiagnostic solutions. Optical functional nanostructures that manipulate and confine light on a nanometer scale have recently emerged as leading candidates for a wide range of applications in solar energy conversion and biosensing. In this review, recent research progress in the development of photonic and plasmonic nanostructures for various applications in solar energy conversion, such as photovoltaics, photothermal conversion, and photocatalysis, is highlighted. Furthermore, the combination of photonic and plasmonic nanostructures for developing high-efficiency solar energy conversion systems is explored and discussed. We also discuss recent applications of photonic–plasmonic-based biosensors in the rapid management of infectious diseases at point-of-care as well as terahertz biosensing and imaging for improving global health. Finally, we discuss the current challenges and future prospects associated with the existing solar energy conversion and biosensing systems.

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“…In these calls, one of the key topics has been ‘Solar glasses and encapsulation materials’. The LIMES project addressed several aspects that are relevant for PV cover glasses and investigated optical, 63 mechanical and chemical properties of glass as well as novel thermal toughening methods 97 and also the addition of antireflective and self‐cleaning capabilities to the glass surface 98,99 . The glasses made in laboratory experiments were used for proof‐of‐concept studies by making the 70 × 70 mm PV modules discussed here.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Towards improved cover glasses for photovoltaic devices

Allsopp

Orman

Johnson

et al. 2020

Progress in Photovoltaics

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For the solar energy industry to increase its competitiveness, there is a global drive to lower the cost of solar-generated electricity. Photovoltaic (PV) module assembly is material-demanding, and the cover glass constitutes a significant proportion of the cost. Currently, 3-mm-thick glass is the predominant cover material for PV modules, accounting for 10%-25% of the total cost. Here, we review the state-of-the-art of cover glasses for PV modules and present our recent results for improvement of the glass. These improvements were demonstrated in terms of mechanical, chemical and optical properties by optimizing the glass composition, including addition of novel dopants, to produce cover glasses that can provide (i) enhanced UV protection of polymeric PV module components, potentially increasing module service lifetimes; (ii) re-emission of a proportion of the absorbed UV photon energy as visible photons capable of being absorbed by the solar cells, thereby increasing PV module efficiencies and (iii) successful laboratory-scale demonstration of proof of concept, with increases of 1%-6% in I sc and 1%-8% in I pm. Improvements in both chemical and crack resistance of the cover glass were also achieved through modest chemical reformulation, highlighting what may be achievable within existing manufacturing technology constraints. K E Y W O R D S chemical properties, cover glass, mechanical properties, optical properties, photoluminescence, PV modules, strengthening of glass 1 | INTRODUCTION Solar energy is often seen as the ultimate renewable energy because of the abundance of solar irradiation available for solar energy generation. In only 90 min, the Earth receives enough energy from the sun to provide its entire annual energy requirements. 1 Chapin, Fuller and Pearson invented the first practical photovoltaic (PV) cell in 1954, 2 and since the year 2000, installed PV capacity has experienced an almost exponential growth. 3 The installed PV capacity can be regulated politically but that is largely achieved on a national level and may be subject to change within just a few years. The growth of the solar energy market has been driven by the reduction of costs. For solar or any other renewable energy source, it has been a necessity to compete on an economical level (i.e., reaching so-called grid parity), and

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Increased Efficiency of Solar Cells Protected by Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Anti-Reflecting Nanostructured Glasses

Cited by 28 publications

References 39 publications

Multifunctional Hierarchical Surface Structures by Femtosecond Laser Processing

Multifunctional Hierarchical Surface Structures by Femtosecond Laser Processing

Photonic–Plasmonic Nanostructures for Solar Energy Utilization and Emerging Biosensors

Towards improved cover glasses for photovoltaic devices

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