Ceramic-Supported Perovskite PV Panel for Rough Facade Surfaces
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current photovoltaic panels, especially thin-film and perovskite-based ones, are not suitable for ceramic substrates due to their requirement for smooth supports like metal, glass, or plastic, leading to aesthetic and durability issues when applied to rough surfaces such as ceramics, and they have low efficiency and weight concerns.
Innovation Solution
A photovoltaic panel design featuring a ceramic substrate with a transparent conductive AZO electrode layer, followed by a titanium dioxide layer, a perovskite layer, a transparent gap-conductive layer, a transparent conductive electrode, and a protective encapsulant layer, applied using screen printing techniques, allowing direct integration on ceramic surfaces like tiles and ventilated facades.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Weight of moving object
If thin-film photovoltaic panels are applied on ceramic substrates, then weight is reduced and aesthetic integration is improved, but manufacturing reliability deteriorates due to the rough surface of ceramic requiring smooth supports for proper material application
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary conductive layer between the ceramic substrate and the photovoltaic active layer. This intermediary layer serves as a mediator that bridges the incompatibility between the rough ceramic surface and the smooth requirement for thin-film deposition, enabling reliable manufacturing while maintaining the benefits of ceramic substrates
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the surface parameters of the ceramic substrate by applying a conductive coating that modifies the surface morphology and electrical properties. This parameter change transforms the unsuitable rough surface into a suitable substrate for thin-film photovoltaic material deposition
2Use of energy by moving object
If conventional photovoltaic panels are used on buildings, then energy production is achieved, but aesthetic integration deteriorates due to high visual impact and requirement for metallic support structures
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the ceramic substrate multi-functional by combining its traditional aesthetic and structural functions with photovoltaic energy generation. The ceramic tile serves simultaneously as architectural element and solar cell substrate, eliminating the need for separate metallic supports and enabling seamless integration into building facades
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the photovoltaic panel structure with the ceramic substrate itself, combining the architectural element and energy-generating component into a single integrated unit. This eliminates the visual impact of separate metallic supports and enables aesthetic integration into building designs
3Power
If monocrystalline or polycrystalline silicon panels are installed, then energy conversion efficiency is improved, but weight and thickness increase requiring metallic support structures
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs thin-film photovoltaic materials deposited directly on the ceramic substrate, replacing the thick rigid silicon wafers with thin flexible layers. This maintains adequate energy conversion efficiency while dramatically reducing weight and eliminating the need for metallic support structures
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables efficient and aesthetically flexible photovoltaic energy generation on ceramic substrates, reducing weight significantly and allowing use on rough surfaces, with the potential to harness diffuse light, while integrating seamlessly with ceramic structures for both functional and decorative purposes.
Implementation Method 1
photovoltaic panel on a ceramic substrate... to produce electrical energy out of light
Data Source
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AI summary
Photovoltaic panel on ceramic substrate, particularly suitable for panels on ventilated facades, which uses a transparent conductive electrode layer on the ceramic substrate, consisting in AZO, where AZO is Aluminium (Al) doped Zinc Oxide (ZnO), on which are arranged, in this sequence, a semi-transparent layer of titanium dioxide TiO2, a perovskite layer, meaning any natural or synthetic material having the same type of crystalline structure as calcium titanate (CaTiO3), generally ABO3, a transparent gap-conducting layer, a transparent conductive electrode layer and at least one transparent protective encapsulant layer. This invention solves the problem of support roughness, allowing a photovoltaic panel suitable for any ceramic substrate, providing photovoltaic energy generation combined with a structural and/ or decorative function, compatible with the screen printing and printing techniques, processes and machinery commonly used in the ceramic industry.