Phosphorescent Solar Cell Structure for Extended Power Generation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Solar cells face limitations in flexibility and efficiency, generating power only during daylight hours and lacking efficient energy storage capabilities.
Innovation Solution
Incorporation of a donor-acceptor particle structure with phosphorescent material in solar cells, where donor particles absorb high-energy photons and emit low-energy photons that are absorbed by acceptor particles, enhancing electron-hole pair generation and enabling power output in dark conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Duration of action of moving object
If conventional solar cells are used, then they can convert solar energy to electricity during daylight hours, but they cannot provide power during non-daylight hours and have limited efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The phosphorescent material absorbs and stores solar energy during daylight hours (preliminary action), then releases this stored energy as light during non-daylight hours to generate electricity, enabling power generation beyond daylight periods while maintaining efficient energy conversion
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the temporal parameter of energy release by using phosphorescent materials with different persistence characteristics, allowing the solar cell to convert stored energy over extended periods (from seconds to hours), thereby extending power generation duration without sacrificing conversion efficiency
2Duration of action of moving object
If phosphorescent material is added to extend power generation to dark conditions, then power output in dark is enabled, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The phosphorescent material is integrated directly into the solar cell structure, merging the energy storage function with the existing photovoltaic components. This combination eliminates the need for separate energy storage systems while extending power generation duration and maintaining relatively simple device architecture
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses composite phosphorescent materials that combine multiple functionalities within a single material system, achieving both energy storage and light emission properties that enable extended power generation without requiring complex multi-component systems
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
Improves solar cell efficiency by approximately 60% under illumination and 300 times in dark conditions, allowing extended power generation beyond daylight hours.
Implementation Method 1
The phosphorescent material is designed and synthesized so as to match its emission wavelength with the absorption spectrum of the light absorber. The aforementioned phosphorescent material comprises a donor chromophore (donor particles) that absorbs high energy photons of solar light and emits light of low energy photons over extended time periods.
Implementation Method 2
Upon excitation, a generation, injection, and flow of electrons in the solid state light absorber region results in response to absorbed photons.
Data Source
AI summary
A solar cell device having a solid state light absorber region that incorporates a donor-acceptor particle structure. The particle structure includes acceptor particles that generate a flow of electrons in the solid state light absorber region in response to absorbed photons; and donor particles comprising a phosphorescent material, wherein each donor particle is coupled to a group of acceptor particles, and wherein the phosphorescent material absorbs high energy photons and emits lower energy photons that are absorbed by the acceptor particles.