Solar module employing quantum luminescent lateral transfer concentrator

US9525092B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Pacific Light Technologies Corp. · US

Inventors

• Alex Mayer · Mill Valley, US
• Shawn R. Scully · San Francisco, US
• Juanita N. Kurtin · Hillsboro, US
• Alex R. Guichard · Portland, US
• Steven Michael Hughes · Louisville, US
• Oun-Ho Park · Jicheon-myeon, KR
• Paul-Emile B. Trudeau · Portland, US
• Colin C. Reese · Portland, US
• Manav Sheoran · Portland, US
• Georgeta Masson · Lafayette, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Nov 2, 2011
• Grant date: Dec 20, 2016
• Expiry date: Nov 2, 2031

Classification

• Technology area (CPC Y): Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
• CPC primary: Y02E10/52

Abstract

A solar concentrator module (80) employs a luminescent concentrator material (82) between photovoltaic cells (86) having their charge-carrier separation junctions (90) parallel to front surfaces (88) of photovoltaic material 84 of the photovoltaic cells (86). Intercell areas (78) covered by the luminescent concentrator material (82) occupy from 2 to 50% of the total surface area of the solar concentrator modules (80). The luminescent concentrator material (82) preferably employs quantum dot heterostructures, and the photovoltaic cells (86) preferably employ low-cost high-efficiency photovoltaic materials (84), such as silicon-based photovoltaic materials.