Waveguide assisted solar energy harvesting

Abstract

A photovoltaic (PV) system includes a fiber optical waveguide comprising an active core that hosts material configured to absorb and emit light, a cladding layer surrounding the active core, the cladding layer being configured to allow ambient light to pass through the cladding layer, and an exit port located proximate an end of the waveguide. The PV system further comprises one or more solar cells disposed at the exit port of the waveguide. The waveguide is configured to guide light to the one or more solar cells. Another photovoltaic (PV) system includes a waveguide comprising an active cladding layer hosting material configured to absorb and emit light, and a core layer configured to confine light emitted by the active cladding layer. The PV system further includes one or more solar cells disposed proximate the waveguide. The core layer is configured to guide light to the one or more solar cells.

1 - 232 . (canceled) 
     
     
         233 . A photovoltaic (PV) system comprising:
 (a) an optical waveguide including
 (i) an active core hosting material configured to absorb and emit light, 
 (ii) an air cladding layer surrounding the active core, the air cladding layer being configured to allow ambient light to pass through the air cladding layer, and the air cladding layer comprising a plurality of air pockets defined within the optical waveguide such that the air cladding layer comprises mostly air, and 
 (iii) an outer cladding layer surrounding the air cladding layer, the outer cladding layer being configured to allow ambient light to pass through the outer cladding layer, and being further configured to serve as a protective layer, and 
 (iv) an exit port located proximate an end of the waveguide; and 
   (b) one or more solar cells disposed at the exit port of the waveguide;   (c) wherein the waveguide is configured to guide light to the one or more solar cells; and   (d) wherein a cross-sectional area of the active core of the optical waveguide represents a majority of a cross-sectional area of the optical waveguide.   
     
     
         234 . An optical waveguide comprising:
 (a) an active core hosting material configured to absorb and emit light;   (b) an air cladding layer surrounding the active core, the air cladding layer being configured to allow ambient light to pass through the air cladding layer, and the air cladding layer comprising a plurality of air pockets defined within the air cladding layer such that the air cladding layer comprises mostly air;   (c) an outer cladding layer surrounding the air cladding layer, the outer cladding layer being configured to allow ambient light to pass through the outer cladding layer, and being further configured to serve as a protective layer; and   (d) an exit port located proximate an end of the waveguide;   (e) wherein the waveguide is configured to guide light to the exit port; and   (f) wherein a cross-sectional area of the active core of the optical waveguide represents a majority of a cross-sectional area of the optical waveguide.   
     
     
         235 . The optical waveguide of  claim 234 , wherein the material comprises a chromophore. 
     
     
         236 . The optical waveguide of  claim 234 , wherein the material comprises a photoluminescent material. 
     
     
         237 . The optical waveguide of  claim 236 , wherein the material comprises a fluorescent material. 
     
     
         238 . The optical waveguide of  claim 234 , wherein the material comprises a phosphorescent material. 
     
     
         239 . The optical waveguide of  claim 234 , wherein the material comprises quantum dots. 
     
     
         240 . The optical waveguide of  claim 234 , wherein the material comprises a dye. 
     
     
         241 . The optical waveguide of  claim 234 , wherein the material comprises an organic dye. 
     
     
         242 . The optical waveguide of  claim 234 , wherein a cross-sectional area of the active core of the optical waveguide represents 75% or more of a cross-sectional area of the optical waveguide. 
     
     
         243 . The optical waveguide of  claim 234 , wherein the active core has a cross-sectional diameter of a few microns. 
     
     
         244 . The optical waveguide of  claim 234 , wherein there are one or more layers disposed between the active core and the air cladding layer. 
     
     
         245 . The optical waveguide of  claim 234 , wherein there are one or more layers disposed between the outer cladding layer and the air cladding layer. 
     
     
         246 . The optical waveguide of  claim 234 , wherein the air cladding layer comprises a honeycomb structure. 
     
     
         247 . The optical waveguide of  claim 234 , wherein the optical waveguide has a circular cross-sectional shape. 
     
     
         248 . The optical waveguide of  claim 234 , wherein the optical waveguide has an elliptical cross-sectional shape. 
     
     
         249 . The optical waveguide of  claim 234 , wherein the optical waveguide has a hexagonal cross-sectional shape. 
     
     
         250 . An optical waveguide comprising:
 (a) a passive central core;   (b) an active cladding layer surrounding the passive central core, the active cladding layer hosting material configured to absorb and emit light;   (c) one or more air cladding layers surrounding the active cladding layer, the one or more air cladding layers being configured to allow ambient light to pass through the one or more air cladding layers from an exterior of the optical waveguide, and the one or more air cladding layers comprising a plurality of air pockets defined within the optical waveguide such that the one or more air cladding layers comprise mostly air; and   (c) an outer cladding layer surrounding the one or more air cladding layers, the outer cladding layer being configured to allow ambient light to pass through the outer cladding layer from an exterior of the optical waveguide, and being further configured to serve as a protective layer; and   (d) an exit port located proximate each end of the waveguide;   (e) wherein the core is configured to confine light emitted by the material hosted in the active cladding layer that passes into the core;   (f) wherein the waveguide is configured to guide light to the exit ports; and   (g) wherein a cross-sectional area of the core of the optical waveguide represents a majority of a cross-sectional area of the optical waveguide.   
     
     
         251 . The optical waveguide of  claim 250 , wherein the optical waveguide has a circular cross-sectional shape. 
     
     
         252 . The optical waveguide of  claim 250 , wherein the optical waveguide has an elliptical cross-sectional shape.