IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,557,432
Granted Patent B2
US 12,557,432 · App. 17/867,022 · Granted Feb 17, 2026

High-performance near-infrared harvesting transparent luminescent solar concentrators

Inventors: Richard R. Lunt, III (Williamston, MI); Chenchen Yang (Holt, MI); Babak Borhan (Okemos, MI); Mehdi Moemeni (Okemos, MI); Matthew Bates (East Lansing, MI)
Assignee: Board of Trustees of Michigan State University
H10F77/45H10F19/80H10F77/484
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,557,432
App. No.
17/867,022
Granted
Feb 17, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

A transparent luminescent solar concentrator (TLSC) is provided. The TLSC includes a luminophore and a waveguide that guides light emitted from the luminophore. The TLSC has a light utilization efficiency (LUE) of greater than or equal to about 1.

Claims (80)

1 . A transparent luminescent solar concentrator (TLSC) comprising:

a luminophore having a quantum yield (QY) of greater than or equal to about 25%; and

a waveguide that guides light emitted from the luminophore, wherein

the TLSC has a light utilization efficiency (LUE) of greater than or equal to about 1,

the luminophore has a strongest absorbance maximum of less than or equal to about 450 nm or greater than or equal to about 650 nm, and

the luminophore has a strongest peak emission of greater than or equal to about 650 nm.

2 . The TLSC according to claim 1 , wherein the TLSC has an average visible transmittance (AVT) of greater than or equal to about 50% and a color rendering index (CRI) of greater than or equal to about 80 at normal incidence to the waveguide.

3 . The TLSC according to claim 1 , wherein the TLSC has a power conversion efficiency (PCE) of greater than or equal to about 1% and a |b*| value of less than or equal to about 25.

4 . The TLSC according to claim 1 , wherein the TLSC has an average visible transmittance (AVT) of greater than or equal to about 60%.

5 . The TLSC according to claim 1 , wherein the luminophore is embedded within the waveguide, disposed directly on the waveguide, or provided in a film that is disposed on the waveguide.

6 . The TLSC according to claim 1 , further comprising:

a photovoltaic component operably coupled to the waveguide.

7 . The TLSC according to claim 1 , wherein the luminophore has a strongest absorbance maximum greater than or equal to about 650 nm.

8 . The TLSC according to claim 7 , wherein the TLSC has a haze that is less than or equal to about 10%.

9 . The TLSC according to claim 7 , wherein the luminophore is a non-fullerene acceptor, a boron-dipyrromethene (BODIPY), or a combination thereof.

10 . The TLSC according to claim 9 , wherein the luminophore is the non-fullerene acceptor, the non-fullerene acceptor being 2,2′-[[4,4, 11, 11-tetrakis(4-hexylphenyl)-4, 11-dihydrothieno[2′,3′: 4,5]thieno[2,3-d]thieno[2″″,3″″: 4′″,5′″]thieno[2′″,3′″: 4″,5″]pyrano[2″,3″: 4′,5′]thieno[2′,3′: 4,5]thieno[3,2-b]pyran-2,9-diyl]bis[methylidyne(5,6-difluoro) (COi8DFIC), 3,9-bis(2-methylene-(3-(1,1-dicyanomethylene)-indanone))-5,5,11, 11-tetrakis(4-hexylphenyl)-dithieno[2,3-d: 2′,3′-d′]-s-indaceno[1,2-b: 5,6-b′]dithiophene) (ITIC), 2,2′-[4,4,9,9-Tetrakis(4-hexylphenyl)-4,9-dihydro-s-indaceno[1,2-b: 5,6-b′]dithiophene-2,7-diyl]bis[4-[(2-ethylhexyl)oxy]-5,2-thiophenediyl]methylidyne(5,6-difluoro-3-oxo-1H-indene-2,1 (3H)-diylidene)]]bis[propanedinitrile] (IEICO-4F), or a combination thereof.

11 . The TLSC according to claim 7 , further comprising:

a second luminophore; and

a second waveguide that guides light emitted from the second luminophore,

wherein the second waveguide is positioned adjacent to the waveguide so that the waveguide receives light that is transmitted through the second waveguide, and

wherein the waveguide and the second waveguide are separated by a gap that is either filled with air or filled with a visually transparent material.

12 . The TLSC according to claim 11 , wherein the visually transparent material has an index of refraction (n) of less than or equal to about 1.3.

13 . The TLSC according to claim 11 , wherein the second luminophore has a quantum yield (QY) greater than or equal to about 50%.

14 . The TLSC according to claim 11 , wherein the second luminophore has a strongest absorbance maximum less than or equal to about 450 nm and a strongest peak emission greater than or equal to about 650 nm.

15 . The TLSC according to claim 14 , wherein the second luminophore comprises a nanocluster.

16 . The TLSC according to claim 14 , wherein the waveguide and the second waveguide are configured so that incident light first passes through the second waveguide and then through the first waveguide.

17 . A transparent luminescent solar concentrator (TLSC) comprising:

a luminophore; and

a waveguide that guides light emitted from the luminophore,

wherein the TLSC has a power conversion efficiency (PCE) of greater than or equal to about 1% and a |b*| value of less than or equal to about 25.

18 . The TLSC according to claim 17 , wherein the TLSC has an average visible transmittance of greater than or equal to about 50% and a color rendering index (CRI) of greater than or equal to about 80 at normal incidence to the waveguide.

19 . The TLSC according to claim 17 , wherein the TLSC has a light utilization efficiency (LUE) of greater than or equal to about 1.

20 . The TLSC according to claim 17 , wherein the TLSC has an average visible transmittance (AVT) of greater than or equal to about 50%.

21 . The TLSC according to claim 17 , wherein the luminophore is embedded within the waveguide, disposed directly on the waveguide, or provided in a film that is disposed on the waveguide.

22 . The TLSC according to claim 17 , further comprising:

a photovoltaic component operably coupled to the waveguide.

23 . The TLSC according to claim 17 , wherein the luminophore has a strongest absorbance maximum and a strongest peak emission greater than or equal to about 650 nm.

24 . The TLSC according to claim 23 , wherein the TLSC has a haze that is less than or equal to about 10%.

25 . The TLSC according to claim 23 , wherein the luminophore is a non-fullerene acceptor, a boron-dipyrromethene (BODIPY), or a combination thereof.

26 . The TLSC according to claim 25 , wherein the luminophore is the non-fullerene acceptor, the non-fullerene acceptor being COi8DFIC, 3,9-bis(2-methylene-(3-(1,1-dicyanomethylene)-indanone))-5,5,11,11-tetrakis(4-hexylphenyl)-dithieno[2,3-d: 2′,3′-d′]-s-indaceno[1,2-b: 5,6-b′]dithiophene) (ITIC), 2,2′-[4,4,9,9-Tetrakis(4-hexylphenyl)-4,9-dihydro-s-indaceno[1,2-b: 5,6-b′]dithiophene-2,7-diyl]bis[4-[(2-ethylhexyl)oxy]-5,2-thiophenediyl]methylidyne(5,6-difluoro-3-oxo-1H-indene-2,1 (3H)-diylidene)]bis[propanedinitrile] (IEICO-4F), or a combination thereof.

27 . The TLSC according to claim 23 , further comprising:

a second luminophore; and

a second waveguide that guides light emitted from the second luminophore,

wherein the second waveguide is positioned adjacent to the waveguide so that the waveguide receives light that is transmitted through the second waveguide, and

wherein the waveguide and the second waveguide are separated by a gap that is either filled with air or filled with a visually transparent material.

28 . The TLSC according to claim 27 , wherein the visually transparent material has an index of refraction (n) of less than or equal to about 1.3.

29 . The TLSC according to claim 27 , wherein the second luminophore has a quantum yield (QY) greater than or equal to about 50%.

30 . The TLSC according to claim 27 , wherein the second luminophore has a strongest absorbance maximum less than or equal to about 450 nm and a strongest peak emission greater than or equal to about 650 nm.

31 . The TLSC according to claim 30 , wherein the second luminophore comprises a nanocluster.

32 . The TLSC according to claim 30 , wherein the waveguide and the second waveguide are configured so that incident light first passes through the second waveguide and then through the first waveguide.

33 . A transparent luminescent solar concentrator (TLSC) comprising:

a luminophore comprising a molecular polythiophene having both a strongest absorbance maximum and a strongest peak emission greater than or equal to about 650 nm; and

a waveguide that guides light emitted from the luminophore,

wherein the TLSC has a light utilization efficiency (LUE) of greater than or equal to about 1, an average visible transmittance (AVT) of greater than or equal to about 50%, and a color rendering index (CRI) of greater than or equal to about 80 at normal incidence to the waveguide.

34 . The TLSC according to claim 33 , wherein the TLSC has a power conversion efficiency (PCE) of greater than or equal to about 1% and a |b*| value of less than or equal to about 25.

35 . The TLSC according to claim 33 , wherein the luminophore is embedded within the waveguide, disposed directly on the waveguide, or provided in a film that is disposed on the waveguide.

36 . The TLSC according to claim 33 , further comprising:

a photovoltaic component operably coupled to the waveguide.

37 . The TLSC according to claim 33 , wherein the TLSC has a haze that is less than or equal to about 10%.

38 . The TLSC according to claim 33 , wherein the molecular polythiophene is 2,2′-[4,4,11,11-tetrakis(4-hexylphenyl)-4, 11-dihydrothieno[2′,3′: 4,5]thieno[2,3-d]thieno[2″″,3″″: 4′″,5″]thieno[2″,3″: 4″,5″]pyrano[2″,3″: 4′,5′]thieno[2′,3′: 4,5]thieno[3,2-b]pyran-2,9-diyl]bis[methylidyne(5,6-difluoro) (COi8DFIC), 3,9-bis(2-methylene-(3-(1,1-dicyanomethylene)-indanone))-5,5,11,11-tetrakis(4-hexylphenyl)-dithieno[2,3-d: 2′,3′-d′]-s-indaceno[1,2-b: 5,6-b′]dithiophene) (ITIC), 2,2′-[[4,4,9,9-Tetrakis(4-hexylphenyl)-4,9-dihydro-s-indaceno[1,2-b: 5,6-b′]dithiophene-2,7-diyl]bis[4-[(2-ethylhexyl)oxy]-5,2-thiophenediyl]methylidyne(5,6-difluoro-3-oxo-1H-indene-2,1 (3H)-diylidene)]]bis[propanedinitrile] (IEICO-4F), or a combination thereof.

39 . The TLSC according to claim 33 , further comprising:

a second luminophore comprising a boron-dipyrromethene (BODIPY) having both a strongest absorbance maximum and a strongest peak emission greater than or equal to about 650 nm,

wherein the waveguide guides light emitted from both the luminophore and the second luminophore.

40 . The TLSC according to claim 33 , further comprising:

a second luminophore; and

a second waveguide that guides light emitted from the second luminophore,

wherein the second waveguide is positioned adjacent to the waveguide so that the waveguide receives light that is transmitted through the second waveguide, and

wherein the waveguide and the second waveguide are separated by an air layer or a layer comprising a visually transparent material.

41 . The TLSC according to claim 40 , wherein the visually transparent material has an index of refraction (n) of less than or equal to about 1.3.

42 . The TLSC according to claim 40 , wherein the second luminophore has a quantum yield (QY) greater than or equal to about 50%.

43 . The TLSC according to claim 40 , wherein the second luminophore has a strongest absorbance maximum less than or equal to about 450 nm and a strongest peak emission greater than or equal to about 650 nm.

44 . The TLSC according to claim 43 , wherein the second luminophore comprises a nanocluster.

45 . The TLSC according to claim 40 , wherein the waveguide and the second waveguide are configured so that incident light first passes through the second waveguide and then through the first waveguide.

46 . The TLSC according to claim 40 , further comprising:

a third luminophore comprising a boron-dipyrromethene (BODIPY) having both a strongest absorbance maximum and a strongest peak emission greater than or equal to about 650 nm,

wherein the waveguide guides light emitted from both the luminophore and the third luminophore.

47 . A transparent luminescent solar concentrator (TLSC) comprising:

a luminophore comprising a molecular polythiophene having both a strongest absorbance maximum and a strongest peak emission greater than or equal to about 650 nm; and

a waveguide that guides light emitted from the luminophore,

wherein the TLSC has a power conversion efficiency (PCE) of greater than or equal to about 1% and a |b*| value of less than or equal to about 25.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 19, 2022
From: LUNT III, RICHARD R.; YANG, CHENCHEN; BORHAN, BABAK; MOEMENI, MEHDI; BATES, MATTHEW
To: BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF MICHIGAN UNIVERSITY
Reel/Frame 060548/0120 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 19, 2022
From: LUNT, III, RICHARD R; YANG, CHENCHEN; BORHAN, BABAK; MOEMENI, MEHDI; BATES, MATTHEW
To: BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY
Reel/Frame 060550/0626 →
Continuity (3)
Continuation PCTUS2021013946 · Jan 19, 2021
Provisional Application 62963455 · Jan 20, 2020
Related Publication 20230033629A1 · Feb 2, 2023
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