SBIR Phase II: Development of a transparent, near-ultraviolet power source for wireless operation of smart windows and IoT devices

小型企业创新研究(SBIR)第二阶段项目的更广泛影响/商业潜力需要通过在建筑物中加速采用无线智能玻璃技术来减少美国的能源需求。到2050年，智能窗技术可以节省21.9亿吨碳，从而节省321.5亿美元的能源。拟议的项目将为智能窗户和物联网(IoT)设备的无线操作提供透明的电源。设想的系统将是稳定的，高效的，可扩展的，并将满足窗口美学要求。这个小型企业创新研究(SBIR)第二阶段项目将探索一种光伏技术，这种技术可以选择性地吸收近紫外线(NUV)光--否则就会浪费掉的能量--并将其高效地转化为高压电力。收集NUV光子的太阳能电池可以满足尚未满足的需求，即在相同的空间足迹内为智能窗户供电，而不会竞争窗户试图调节的可见光或红外光子。该项目产生的科学影响更广泛，包括有助于理解控制有机光伏(OPV)有源层组成和由此产生的可见光透过率的结构-性质关系。第二阶段的技术成果将包括展示具有世界领先可见透明度的NUV太阳能组件。这一奖励反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力优势和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

The broader impact/commercial potential of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project entails the reduction of US energy demand via accelerated adoption of wireless smart glass technologies in buildings. Smart window technologies could save 2.19 gigatons of carbon by 2050, resulting in $321.5 B in energy savings. The proposed project will advance a transparent power source for wireless operation of smart windows and Internet of Things (IoT) devices. The envisioned system will be stable, efficient, and scalable, and will meet window aesthetic requirements. This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project will explore a photovoltaic technology that selectively absorbs near-ultraviolet (NUV) light - energy that is otherwise wasted - and efficiently converts it into high-voltage power. Solar cells harvesting NUV photons could satisfy the unmet need of powering smart windows over the same spatial footprint without competing for visible or infrared photons that the windows seek to regulate. Scientific broader impacts from this project include contributions to the understanding of structure-property relationships governing organic photovoltaic (OPV) active layer composition and resulting visible light transmittance. Phase II technical deliverables will include demonstration of a NUV solar module with world-leading visible transparency.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.