Osram Opto Semiconductors Gmbh

Alex C Mayer

Juanita N Kurtin

Georgeta Masson

Steven M Hughes

Oun-Ho Park

Oun Ho Park

Colin C Reese

Manav Sheoran

Alex R Guichard

Paul-Emile B Trudeau

Shawn R Scully

The light conversion efficiency of a solar cell is enhanced by using an optical downshifting layer in cooperation with a photovoltaic material. The optical downshifting layer converts photons having wavelengths in a supplemental light absorption spectrum into photons having a wavelength in the primary light absorption spectrum of the photovoltaic materiaL The cost effectiveness and efficiency of solar cells platforms can be increased by relaxing the range of the primary light absorption spectrum of the photovoltaic materiaL The optical downshifting layer can be applied as a low cost solution processed film composed of highly absorbing and emissive quantum dot heterostructure nanomaterial embedded in an inert matrix to improve the short wavelength response to the photovoltaic materiaL The enhanced efficiency provided by the optical downshifting layer permits advantageous modifications to the solar cell platform that enhances its efficiency as well.

Optical downshifting layer

The light conversion efficiency of a solar cell () is enhanced by using an optical downshifting layer () in cooperation with a photovoltaic material (). The optical downshifting layer converts photons () having wavelengths in a supplemental light absorption spectrum into photons () having a wavelength in the primary light absorption spectrum of the photovoltaic material. The cost effectiveness and efficiency of solar cells platforms () can be increased by relaxing the range of the primary light absorption spectrum of the photovoltaic material. The optical downshifting layer can be applied as a low cost solution processed film composed of highly absorbing and emissive quantum dot heterostructure nanomaterial embedded in an inert matrix to improve the short wavelength response of the photovoltaic material. The enhanced efficiency provided by the optical downshifting layer permits advantageous modifications to the solar cell platform that enhances its efficiency as well.

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

Quantum dot and luminescent material made therefrom

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Portland, OR, United States of America

Alex C Mayer