Applications


BIPV and AIPV solar windows and sunroofs



Semitransparent PV windows



Two distinct markets



Semitransparent photovoltaic windows constitute one of Lucintech’s core technology strengths. Our power-generating PV window technology can provide major benefits in two distinct but complementary market spaces: PV windows, skylights and atriums for buildings, and PV sunroofs for vehicles. Each of these markets has an upside potential of $3 to $4 billion.



BIPV windows, atriums and canopies



Large expanses of glass in commercial buildings lead to solar heat gain that adds to the already heavy grid power demand coming from these buildings. Lucintech has developed an efficient and affordable building-integrated PV (BIPV) window that reduces the solar heat load and simultaneously converts the windows into an important electrical power source for the building. The Lucintech technology can provide major support for achieving advanced green-building certifications and in reducing energy costs over the life of the building. The Lucintech value-added PV coating can yield a very attractive return on investment. Our analysis shows that the cost of our value-added PV coating on the windows can provide a full return on investment in under four years for a typical building in New York City.



Electric buses with PV windows and light-weight rooftop PV



​For a typical electric bus with Lucintech PV windows on the sides and rear and lightweight Lucintech PV on the top, the electric generation will extend the range between charges. For example, for the solar conditions of NYC, and typical driving cycles, the on-board solar can provide power for about 4700 km.(Estimates are based on a 2014Canadian study of the efficiency of an electric bus operating on a standard route.)




Sunroofs in automobiles and trucks



Automotive-integrated PV (AIPV) also offers major opportunities for incorporating Lucintech technology. The PV sunroof creates a high-value, high visibility product for a rapidly growing market in supplementary charging for electric and hybrid vehicles. The PV tinting reduces glare and heat load during driving to increase driver and passenger comfort while still providing the visual advantages of a sunroof. For both conventional internal combustion engine vehicles and EVs the PV sunroof can power cabin ventilation while parked that improves comfort and greatly reduces air conditioning load during initial driving. This improves efficiency and helps meet new fuel economy standards. Studies show that active cabin ventilation can allow significant down-sizing of auto air conditioners that will provide continuing benefits throughout the driving cycle. Our analysis, based on studies done by the National Renewable Energy Lab, shows that the cost of Lucintech’s value-added PV coating can be recovered in as little as two years from the fuel savings that result from reduced air conditioning demand.



PV for aerospace, portable power and the Internet of things



Ultra-lightweight and flexible PV mini-modules



Why are standard solar modules so heavy?



Most solar modules use rigid glass either as a host for the thin film coating or as an encapsulation material to provide hermetic protection. Modules based on silicon wafers usually use glass to provide the top-side encapsulation and for mounting the fragile wafers. Most thin-film solar cells and modules, such as those using CdTe, CIGS, amorphous silicon, or perovskites also use one sheet of glass to carry the thin-film and often a second glass sheet to complete the encapsulation. These glass sheets result in modules that are heavy with 1 to 6 mm of glass. In many applications, this weight is not a concern and is a trade-off to be able to use glass which is cheap and provides good protection from moisture, corrosive pollutants, UV, and oxygen.


Flexible thin-film solar modules typically use organic/inorganic barrier films for encapsulation to achieve the necessary environmental protection. These barrier films often are much thicker than the multilayer PV coating itself, even if one includes the carrier sheet used as a substrate or superstrate. Thus, available flexible modules also have considerable added mass to achieve the necessary environmental protection The need to use glass or barrier films limits the power per unit mass (specific power) that the final PV modules can achieve, even if the basic PV cell or PV film may have very high specific power.



Two sample sizes of Lucintech’s mini-modules are shown in the adjacent figure. The smaller minimodule is ~25 sq cm the larger minimodule is~150 sq cm.Applications of Lucintech’s ultra-light-weight PV minimodules include: Power for internet of things (IoT) Power for unmanned air vehicles (UAVs)The UAV application is illustrated by the images below that show a vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) airframe from Theiss UAV Solutions Inc. 90% of the upper surface of the wing can be covered with the Lucintech minimodules and would produce more than enough power for cruising under sunny conditions.



The low mass Lucintech module



The Lucintech innovation is that we use an ultra-thin, flexible ribbon ceramic as the superstrate/carrier for our PV film. The thin-film CdTe PV coating is applied under the ribbon ceramic so no additional top-side encapsulation is needed. The ribbon ceramic is only 1/50 of a millimeter thick (20 microns) so that the overall cell thickness is less than 25 microns. Furthermore, the ceramic is electrically insulating so laser-scribed monolithic integration can be use and the resulting module is extremely light weight.This ultra-thin and flexible ribbon ceramic provides the required environmental protection on the top and suitable lamination to a solid surface underneath can provide the back-side protection.



Alternatively the back side could be covered with a wide range of flexible materials ranging from a flexible metal foil to a polymer barrier film. This foil or film does not have to be transparent or be exposed to UV and direct sunlight. Many attractive applications are suggested in wearable electronics and in the Internet of Things (IoT)



Neutron detectors



Low-cost neutron detector modules



Neutron detectors are critically important for monitoring and tracking fissionable nuclear materials often referred to as special nuclear materials (SNM). These detectors range from hand-held, portable radiation monitors (PRMs) to backpack or stand-alone detectors, and to large-scale radiation portal monitors (RPMs). These RPMs are heavily employed at ports (sea, rail, trucking, and air). There is a strong need for alternative and low-cost technologies for these applications. Traditionally, the rare isotope He-3 is used in a discharge or Geiger tube configuration, particularly for RPMs. Working with our partner, Lithium Innovations Co, LLC, in a project supported by the Department of Homeland Security, Lucintech has developed a low-cost prototype module as described on our technology page. Lithium Innovations is currently assembling prototypes for use in a wide variety of applications. Our detector technology, LiNDA™, has received the TechConnect Defense Innovation Award in 2017. Further information on applications of these innovative neutron detectors can be found on the Lithium Innovations web pages.Further information on how the LiNDA detector works can be found under the “technology” tab of this web site.


Lucintech Inc


419.265.2641 | 1510 N. Westwood Ave, Toledo, OH, 43606