Solar Control Interlayer With Reflective Optical Layer for High VLT
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing solar control interlayers face a trade-off between quantum dot loading for energy capture and visible light transmission, where increasing quantum dot loading reduces visible light transmission.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating an optical layer that reflects ultraviolet and infrared light back into a polymer layer containing luminescent solar concentrators, allowing the concentrators to harvest energy from the same light rays without compromising visible light transmission.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If quantum dot loading is increased to improve energy capture, then energy capture efficiency is improved, but visible light transmission is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a temporal dimension to light interaction by implementing a reflective layer that returns unabsorbed light back to the quantum dots. This allows light to pass through the interlayer twice (forward and backward passes), effectively increasing the interaction time and probability of energy capture without increasing the physical concentration of quantum dots, thereby maintaining visible light transmission.
Solution Approach 2:
The reflective layer creates a continuous energy capture process by redirecting light that passed through without being absorbed back into the quantum dot layer. This extends the useful action of energy capture beyond a single light pass, allowing the same quantum dots to capture energy from the same light rays multiple times, improving overall efficiency without compromising transmission.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If quantum dot loading is increased to capture more infrared and ultraviolet energy, then solar control performance is improved, but the interlayer appears darker and reduces visible light transmission
Solution Approach 1:
By adding the reflective layer, the patent creates an optical cavity effect where infrared and ultraviolet light can interact with the quantum dots multiple times. This dimensional addition to the optical path allows enhanced capture of harmful radiation while maintaining visible light transmission, as the quantum dots selectively absorb specific wavelengths on multiple passes.
Solution Approach 2:
The reflective layer ensures continuous interaction between infrared and ultraviolet light and the quantum dots by returning unabsorbed radiation back into the layer. This continuous action improves solar control performance by maximizing the capture of harmful energy without requiring increased quantum dot loading that would darken the interlayer.
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
Enhances energy capture efficiency by allowing quantum dots to capture energy twice from the same light rays, maintaining high visible light transmission and other interlayer properties.
Implementation Method 1
The optical layer comprises one or more materials or components that reflect light back into the polymer layer
Implementation Method 2
Certain solar control interlayers comprise luminescent solar concentrators (LSCs), such as colloidal semiconductor nanocrystals (also called quantum dots) or organic photovoltaic (OPV) cells
Implementation Method 3
organic photovoltaic (OPV) cells
Data Source
AI summary
A functional interlayer for incorporation into laminated structures is provided. The functional interlayer may provide solar control properties to the laminated structure. The laminated structure may be part of a window unit. An interlayer comprises a thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) layer comprising luminescent solar concentrators and an optical layer in contact with the TPU layer. The optical layer comprises one or more materials that reflect light back into the TPU layer. This allows the luminescent solar concentrators to harvest more energy from the same light rays, which increases the overall energy capture of the LSCs without compromising other functional properties, such as the visible light transmission (VLT), of the interlayer.