IP Library Granted Patent US 11,990,287
Granted Patent B2
US 11,990,287 · App. 17/894,992 · Granted May 21, 2024

Photovoltaic window color-conversion layers

Inventors: Kevin Joseph Prince (Golden, CO); Lance Michael Wheeler (Golden, CO)
Assignee: Alliance for Sustainable Energy, LLC
H01G9/209C09B11/24C09B67/0063C09K11/02C09K11/06H01G9/2009H02S20/26H10K30/30H10K30/40H10K30/87C09K2211/1007C09K2211/1018
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,990,287
App. No.
17/894,992
Granted
May 21, 2024
Kind
B2
Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a photovoltaic (PV) device that includes a color-conversion layer that includes at least one of a color-tuning layer and/or an intermediate layer and a photovoltaic layer where the color-conversion layer changes the appearance of the PV device when compared to a similar PV device constructed without the color-conversion layer, the color-conversion layer increases a power output of the PV device by at least one of reflecting light to the PV layer or emitting light which is redirected to the PV layer, and the device is at least partially transparent to light in the visible spectrum.

Claims (35)

1. A photovoltaic (PV) device comprising:

a color-tuning layer comprising a dye positioned within a matrix; and

a PV layer comprising a perovskite, wherein:

the color-tuning layer is capable of absorbing light comprising a first wavelength and emitting light comprising a second wavelength,

the first wavelength is between 400 nm and 700 nm,

the second wavelength is greater than the first wavelength,

the PV layer has a disordered state and an ordered state,

the PV layer is not substantially photoactive when in the disordered state,

the PV layer is configured to absorb a portion of the second wavelength when in the ordered state,

the device is at least partially transparent to light in the visible spectrum when the PV layer is in the disordered, and

the device is at least partially opaque to light in the visible spectrum when the PV layer is in the ordered state.

2. The PV device of claim 1 , wherein the second wavelength is between about 400 nm and 700 nm.

3. The PV device of claim 1 , wherein the matrix comprises at least one of a solid, a liquid, or a gas.

4. The PV device of claim 1 , wherein the dye comprises xanthene dye.

5. The PV device of claim 1 , wherein the dye comprises at least one of an oxazine, a rhodamine, or tris(8-hydroxyquinolinato)aluminum.

6. The PV device of claim 3 , wherein the matrix is a solid.

7. The PV device of claim 6 , wherein the solid matrix comprises at least one of a polymer, a glass, a metal oxide, lithium fluoride, magnesium fluoride, or zinc sulfide.

8. The PV device of claim 7 , wherein the polymer comprises at least one of poly-acrylic acid, poly(methyl methacrylate, poly(vinyl acetate), polyvinylcarbozal, or polystyrene.

9. The PV device of claim 7 , wherein the metal oxide comprises at least one of silica or alumina.

10. The PV device of claim 6 , wherein the matrix comprises a plurality of nanoparticles.

11. The PV device of claim 1 , wherein the color-tuning layer has a thickness between 5 nm and 300 nm.

12. The PV device of claim 1 , wherein:

the PV layer is part of a PV stack, and

the PV stack further comprises:

a hole transfer layer (HTL);

an electron transfer layer (ETL);

a first charge collecting layer; and

a second charge collecting layer; wherein:

the PV layer is positioned between the HTL and the ETL,

the HTL is positioned between the first charge collecting layer and the PV layer, and

the ETL is positioned between the second charge collecting layer and the PV layer.

13. The PV device of claim 12 , wherein:

an intermediate layer comprises at least one layer of the PV stack or a separate layer, and

the intermediate layer is positioned between the PV layer and the color-tuning layer.

14. The device of claim 1 , wherein the PV layer generates a voltage when in the ordered state.

Assignments (3)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Dec 16, 2025
From: ALLIANCE FOR SUSTAINABLE ENERGY, LLC
To: ALLIANCE FOR ENERGY INNOVATION, LLC
Reel/Frame 073993/0276 →
CONFIRMATORY LICENSE Recorded Jan 24, 2023
From: NATIONAL RENEWABLE ENERGY LABORATORY
To: UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Reel/Frame 062469/0352 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 24, 2022
From: PRINCE, KEVIN JOSEPH; WHEELER, LANCE MICHAEL
To: ALLIANCE FOR SUSTAINABLE ENERGY, LLC
Reel/Frame 060893/0028 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 63236347 · Aug 24, 2021
Related Publication 20230061924A1 · Mar 2, 2023