Green and wide acceptance angle solar concentrators

Abstract

A low-toxicity photopolymer was employed to prepare holographic solar concentrators (HSCs). The main aim of this study is to obtain a versatile holographic element to concentrate the sunlight from different relative positions of the Sun during the day, avoiding the need of expensive tracking systems. Multiplexed holographic elements that combine symmetric and asymmetric holographic lenses of low frequency (545 l/mm) have been recorded in the same plate to concentrate the sunlight from sunrise to sunset. The holographic behavior of HSCs has been studied by measuring the angular diffraction efficiency at 633 nm (close to the maximum response of silicon cells). The efficiency of the complete system "HSC-solar cell" has been evaluated by measuring the short-circuit current (I_sc) under solar illumination at different incident angles. This study overcomes the trade-off between good efficiency and high incident acceptance angle, showing an important breakthrough to obtain wide acceptance angle systems.