Title: Anti-reflective and anti-soiling coatings for self-cleaning properties

Abstract

The disclosure discloses abrasion resistant, persistently hydrophobic and oleophobic, anti-reflective and anti-soiling coatings for glass. The coatings described herein have wide application, including for example the front cover glass of solar modules. Methods of applying the coatings using various apparatus are disclosed. Methods for using the coatings in solar energy generation plants to achieve greater energy yield and reduced operations costs are disclosed. Coating materials are formed by combinations of hydrolyzed silane-base precursors through sol-gel processes. Several methods of synthesis and formulation of coating materials are disclosed.

Inventors:

Brophy, Brenor L.; Nair, Vinod; Dave, Bakul Champaklal

Issue Date:

2016-05-31

Research Org.:

Enki Technology, Inc., San Jose, CA (United States)

Sponsoring Org.:

USDOE

OSTI Identifier:

1255211

Patent Number(s):

9353268

Application Number:

14/488,923

Assignee:

Enki Technology, Inc. (San Jose, CA)

Patent Classifications (CPCs):

C - CHEMISTRY C03 - GLASS C03C - CHEMICAL COMPOSITION OF GLASSES, GLAZES, OR VITREOUS ENAMELS

Y - NEW / CROSS SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES Y02 - TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE Y02E - REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION

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C - CHEMISTRY C03 - GLASS C03C - CHEMICAL COMPOSITION OF GLASSES, GLAZES, OR VITREOUS ENAMELS

C03C2217/78 - Coatings specially designed to be durable, e.g. scratch-resistant

Y - NEW / CROSS SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES Y02 - TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE Y02E - REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION

Y02E10/50 - Photovoltaic [PV] energy

C - CHEMISTRY C03 - GLASS C03C - CHEMICAL COMPOSITION OF GLASSES, GLAZES, OR VITREOUS ENAMELS

C03C2217/94 - Transparent conductive oxide layers [TCO] being part of a multilayer coating

Y - NEW / CROSS SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES Y10 - TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC Y10T - TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION

Y10T428/31612 - As silicone, silane or siloxane
Y10T428/265 - 1 mil or less

C - CHEMISTRY C03 - GLASS C03C - CHEMICAL COMPOSITION OF GLASSES, GLAZES, OR VITREOUS ENAMELS

C03C2217/425 - consisting of a porous layer
C03C2217/76 - Hydrophobic and oleophobic coatings

C - CHEMISTRY C09 - DYES C09D - COATING COMPOSITIONS, e.g. PAINTS, VARNISHES OR LACQUERS

C09D5/1662 - {Synthetic film-forming substance}

C - CHEMISTRY C03 - GLASS C03C - CHEMICAL COMPOSITION OF GLASSES, GLAZES, OR VITREOUS ENAMELS

C03C2218/113 - by sol-gel processes

C - CHEMISTRY C08 - ORGANIC MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS C08G - MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS OBTAINED OTHERWISE THAN BY REACTIONS ONLY INVOLVING UNSATURATED CARBON-TO-CARBON BONDS

C08G77/24 - halogen-containing groups

C - CHEMISTRY C03 - GLASS C03C - CHEMICAL COMPOSITION OF GLASSES, GLAZES, OR VITREOUS ENAMELS

C03C2217/20 - Materials for coating a single layer on glass

C - CHEMISTRY C09 - DYES C09D - COATING COMPOSITIONS, e.g. PAINTS, VARNISHES OR LACQUERS

C09D5/1675 - {Polyorganosiloxane-containing compositions}
C09D5/00 - Coating compositions, e.g. paints, varnishes or lacquers, characterised by their physical nature or the effects produced {

C - CHEMISTRY C03 - GLASS C03C - CHEMICAL COMPOSITION OF GLASSES, GLAZES, OR VITREOUS ENAMELS

C03C17/30 - with silicon-containing compounds
C03C17/007 - {containing a dispersed phase, e.g. particles, fibres or flakes, in a continuous phase}
C03C2203/27 - the alkoxides containing other organic groups, e.g. alkyl groups
C03C2217/732 - made of a single layer

C - CHEMISTRY C09 - DYES C09D - COATING COMPOSITIONS, e.g. PAINTS, VARNISHES OR LACQUERS

C09D183/08 - containing silicon bound to organic groups containing atoms other than carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen
C09D5/006 - {Anti-reflective coatings}

H - ELECTRICITY H01 - BASIC ELECTRIC ELEMENTS H01L - SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES

H01L31/02168 - {the coatings being antireflective or having enhancing optical properties for the solar cells}
H01L31/022466 - {made of transparent conductive layers, e.g. TCO, ITO layers}

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DOE Contract Number:  

EE0006040

Resource Type:

Patent

Resource Relation:

Patent File Date: 2014 Sep 17

Country of Publication:

United States

Language:

English

Subject:

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY; 14 SOLAR ENERGY