Anti-reflection coatings for solar energy devices

Dr. Michael Harvey, XeroCoat, Inc.

Almost all photovoltaic modules have a glass cover plate as the surface which faces the sun. Light from the sun must pass across the interface between air and the glass, and at this interface 4% or more of the light will be reflected. Anti-reflection coatings on the external surface of the glass can increase the energy output from solar modules by letting more light from the sun enter the module and be converted to electricity. This presentation will discuss anti-reflection coatings for solar applications, the benefits to be gained from such coatings and present a novel method for producing anti-reflection coatings which is uniquely suited to the solar energy market.

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