Titania is a semiconductor and photocatalyst that is also chemically inert. With its bandgap of 3.2 and greater, to activate the photocatalytic property of titania requires light of about 390 nm wavelength, which is in the ultra-violet, where sunlight is very low in intensity. A method and devices are disclosed wherein stress is induced and managed in a thin film of titania in order to shift and lower the bandgap energy into the longer wavelengths that are more abundant in sunlight. Applications of this stress-induced bandgap-shifted titania photocatalytic surface include photoelectrolysis for production of hydrogen gas from water, photovoltaics for production of electricity, and photocatalysis for detoxification and disinfection.

Titania is a semiconductor and photocatalyst that is also chemically inert. With its bandgap of 3.2 and greater, to activate the photocatalytic property of titania requires light of about 390 nm wavelength, which is in the ultra-violet, where sunlight is very low in intensity. A method and devices are disclosed wherein stress is induced and managed in a thin film of titania in order to shift and lower the bandgap energy into the longer wavelengths that are more abundant in sunlight. Applications of this stress-induced bandgap-shifted titania photocatalytic surface include photoelectrolysis for production of hydrogen gas from water, photovoltaics for production of electricity, and photocatalysis for detoxification and disinfection.

A solar panel includes a backsheet layer, a bottom encapsulant layer adjacent the backsheet layer, a plurality of photovoltaic cells adjacent the bottom encapsulant layer, a top encapsulant layer adjacent the plurality of photovoltaic cells having a plurality of louvers constructed therein to block side view of the plurality of photovoltaic cells, and a top layer adjacent the top encapsulant layer.

A solar panel includes a backsheet layer, a bottom encapsulant layer adjacent the backsheet layer, a plurality of photovoltaic cells adjacent the bottom encapsulant layer, a top encapsulant layer adjacent the plurality of photovoltaic cells having a plurality of louvers constructed therein to block side view of the plurality of photovoltaic cells, and a top layer adjacent the top encapsulant layer.

A transparent photovoltaic (TPV) integrated directly into the structure of an electrochromic (EC) device is beneficial in that it can eliminate at least one substrate and provide more uniform coloring. Integration of a transparent photovoltaic with an electrochromic device may also reduce or eliminate the need for an electrical bus on a substrate. In some embodiments, positioning the TPV internally with the EC cell may eliminate the need for additional substrate layers or a conductive layer on one side of the TPV cell. Integrating a PV cell into the EC device can additionally reduce the need for external wiring and an external power supply. Alternatively, the TPV can assist in charging a battery where the battery can be used to power the EC device when there is no sunlight available.

A transparent photovoltaic (TPV) integrated directly into the structure of an electrochromic (EC) device is beneficial in that it can eliminate at least one substrate and provide more uniform coloring. Integration of a transparent photovoltaic with an electrochromic device may also reduce or eliminate the need for an electrical bus on a substrate. In some embodiments, positioning the TPV internally with the EC cell may eliminate the need for additional substrate layers or a conductive layer on one side of the TPV cell. Integrating a PV cell into the EC device can additionally reduce the need for external wiring and an external power supply. Alternatively, the TPV can assist in charging a battery where the battery can be used to power the EC device when there is no sunlight available.

A solar panel construction and method for making the same includes a substrate, an array of solar cells positioned atop the substrate, and a graphical film positioned atop the array of solar cells, the graphical film includes a predetermined pattern of spaced droplets of white pigment applied to a top surface of the graphical film and a predetermined pattern of droplets of colored pigment applied atop at least some of the spaced droplets of white pigment such that each droplet of colored pigment overlaps a droplet of white pigment. The construction may or may not include a separate protective film covering. In use, the white pigment functions to block a portion of the solar cells observed visually while reflecting light back to the solar cells, while the colored pigment applied atop the white pigment creates a desired visual effect such as a camouflage pattern.

The present disclosure provides a solar module including an encapsulation layer, a plurality of solar cells embedded in the encapsulation layer with gaps between the solar cells; and a first patterned layer formed on the encapsulation layer and corresponding to locations of the gaps so as to absorb the light penetrating through the gaps, thereby shielding buildings from sunlight and thus saving energy.

The present disclosure provides a solar module including an encapsulation layer, a plurality of solar cells embedded in the encapsulation layer with gaps between the solar cells; and a first patterned layer formed on the encapsulation layer and corresponding to locations of the gaps so as to absorb the light penetrating through the gaps, thereby shielding buildings from sunlight and thus saving energy.

Disclosed herein are improved methods for applying rapid mechanical loading to a photovoltaic module to better simulate the rapid displacements exhibited by photovoltaic modules under wind loading.