GOALI: Holographic Passive Solar Concentration and Lighting

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Research Objectives and ApproachesThe objective of this research is to create a new form of holographic polymer film that can redirect sunlight over daily and yearly variations in order to enable passive solar concentrators for energy generation and passive solar lighting for energy conservation. The approach is to tailor the polymer reaction and diffusion rates such that the holograms can grow to 25 times the efficiency typical of such materials, enabling many thin and 100% efficient films to be stacked into a single sheet. Design tools for these angle and color selective films will be created to guide the fabrication and test of functional samples.Intellectual MeritThe research will advance soft materials science by investigating optically-initiated, strong segregation of polymers in solid films. Specialized theoretical and numerical design tools will exploit this enhanced control over 3D material properties to enable new classes of polymer optical devices with large refractive index gradients. High-throughput film fabrication processes will be created to realize these designs in economically-relevant costs and sizes. In cooperation with two industrial partners, the program will then fabricate and test specialized films for solar generation and conservation applications.Broader ImpactsThe program will establish a satellite research hub at an undergraduate liberal arts college. Undergraduates will investigate materials during the academic year, then spend summers integrating results into the larger program at the University of Colorado.