International Business Machines Corporation

Osram Opto Semiconductors Gmbh

Pacific Light Technologies Corp.

Oun Ho Park

Robert Dennis Miller

Ho-Cheol Kim

Juanita N Kurtin

Georgeta Masson

Steven M Hughes

Alex Christopher Mayer

Alex C Mayer

Paul-Emile B Trudeau

Colin C Reese

Manav Sheoran

Shawn Scully

Alex R Guichard

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.

Optical downshifting layer

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.

Solar module employing quantum luminescent lateral transfer concentrator

A method of forming a metal oxide nanostructure comprises disposing a chelated oligomeric metal oxide precursor on a solvent-soluble template to form a first structure comprising a deformable chelated oligomeric metal oxide precursor layer; setting the deformable chelated oligomeric metal oxide precursor layer to form a second structure comprising a set metal oxide precursor layer; dissolving the solvent-soluble template with a solvent to form a third structure comprising the set metal oxide precursor layer; and thermally treating the third structure to form the metal oxide nanostructure.

Methods of forming metal oxide nanostructures, and nanostructures thereof

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Portland, OR, United States of America

Oun Ho Park