Environmentally-friendly coatings and environmentally-friendly systems and methods for generating energy

Abstract

UV-curable coatings for photovoltaic systems, photovoltaic systems having a UV-curable coating, and methods of generating energy through photovoltaic systems having a UV-curable coating are disclosed. The UV-curable coating includes a urethane acrylate blend, a montmorillonite platelet, a light stabilizer, a UV absorber, and a photoinitiator. The coating is substantially transparent to visible and near infrared light and provides a barrier to oxygen and moisture and the coating is configured to adhere to a film.

1 . A photovoltaic system, the photovoltaic system comprising:
 a film coated with a UV-curable coating, the UV-curable coating comprising:   a urethane acrylate blend;   a montmorillonite platelet;   a light stabilizer;   a UV absorber;   a photoinitiator; and,   wherein the coating is substantially transparent to visible and near infrared light and provides a barrier to oxygen and moisture, and adheres to the film;   a securing mechanism; and   a photovoltaic device; and,   wherein the securing mechanism secures the film to the photovoltaic device.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the substantial transparency of the coating is above about 92% transmittance,   
       the urethane acrylate blend comprises aliphatic urethane acrylate oligomer and 1,6 hexanediol diacrylate,
 the montmorillonite platelet comprises methyl, tallow, bis-2-hydroxyethyl, quaternary ammonium, the tallow being about 65% C18, about 30% C16, and about 5% C14, 
 the light stabilizer comprises Bis(1,2,2,6,6-pentamethyl-4-piperidyl) sebacate and methyl 1,2,2,6,6-pentamethyl-4-piperidyl sebacate, 
 the UV absorber comprises 2-[ 4 -[(2-Hydroxy-3-dodecyloxypropyl)oxy]-2-hydroxyphenyl]-4,6-bis(2,4-dimethylphenyl)-1,3,5-triazine and 2-[4-[(2-Hydroxy-3-tridecyloxypropyl)oxy]-2-hydroxyphenyl]-4,6-bis(2,4-dimethylphenyl)-1,3,5-triazine, 
 the photoinitiator comprises oligo[2-hydroxy-2-methyl-1-[4-(1-methylvinyl)phenyl] propanone] and 2-hydroxy-2-methyl-1-phenyl propan-1-one, and 
 the film comprises polymethylmethacrylate. 
 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the securing mechanism comprises an optically transparent adhesive. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the photovoltaic device comprises a semiconductor material selected from the group consisting of silicon, cadmium sulfide, cadmium telluride, gallium arsenide, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the UV absorber permits radiation of one or more predetermined ranges of wavelengths to transmit through the UV-curable coating. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the one or more predetermined ranges of wavelengths corresponding to ranges of wavelengths having peak response for a predetermined photoinitiator. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the photoinitiator includes a peak response to radiation in the UV range. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the photoinitiator includes a transmittance spectrum with a range of low transmittance extending from about 200 nanometers to about 300 nanometers, a range of increasing transmittance extending from about 300 nanometers to about 380 nanometers, and a range of high transmittance extending from about 380 nanometers and higher; and   the UV absorber includes a transmittance spectrum with a range of low transmittance extending from about 290 nanometers to about 350 nanometers, a range of increasing transmittance extending from about 350 nanometers to about 380 nanometers, and a range of high transmittance extending from about 380 nanometers and higher.   
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the film includes a transmission versus wavelength plot including a low transmission region, an increasing transmission region, and a high transmission region, wherein the increasing transmission region of the transmission versus wavelength plot for the film extends from about 370 nanometers to about 430 nanometers. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a second UV-curable coating applied to an opposing side of the film. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the urethane acrylate blend forms about 91% of the coating,   the montmorillonite platelet forms about 5% of the coating,   the light stabilizer forms about 0.5% of the coating,   the UV absorber forms about 0.5% of the coating, and   the photoinitiator forms about 3% of the coating.   
     
     
         12 . A method of generating energy through photovoltaics, the method comprising:
 providing a photovoltaic system, the photovoltaic system comprising:   a film coated with a UV-curable coating, the UV-curable coating comprising:   a urethane acrylate blend;   a montmorillonite platelet;   a light stabilizer;   a UV absorber;   a photoinitiator; and,   wherein the coating is substantially transparent to visible and near infrared light, provides a barrier to oxygen and moisture, and adheres to the film;   a securing mechanism; and   a photovoltaic device; and,   wherein the securing mechanism secures the film to the photovoltaic device.   
       positioning the photovoltaic system to receive solar radiation; and
 converting the solar radiation into mechanical energy. 
 
     
     
         13 . A UV-curable coating for photovoltaics, the coating comprising:
 a urethane acrylate blend;   a montmorillonite platelet;   a light stabilizer;   a UV absorber;   a photoinitiator; and,   wherein the coating is substantially transparent to visible and near infrared light, provides a barrier to oxygen and moisture, and adheres to a film.   
     
     
         14 . The coating of  claim 13 , wherein the substantial transparency of the coating is above about 92% transmittance. 
     
     
         15 . The coating of  claim 13 , wherein the urethane acrylate blend comprises aliphatic urethane acrylate oligomer and 1,6 hexanediol diacrylate. 
     
     
         16 . The coating of  claim 13 , wherein the montmorillonite platelet comprises methyl, tallow, bis-2-hydroxyethyl, quaternary ammonium, wherein the tallow is about 65% C18, about 30% C16, and about 5% C14. 
     
     
         17 . The coating of  claim 13 , wherein the light stabilizer comprises Bis(1,2,2,6,6-pentamethyl-4-piperidyl) sebacate and methyl 1,2,2,6,6-pentamethyl-4-piperidyl sebacate. 
     
     
         18 . The coating of  claim 13 , wherein the UV absorber comprises 2-[4-[(2-Hydroxy-3-dodecyloxypropyl)oxy]-2-hydroxyphenyl]-4,6-bis(2,4-dimethylphenyl)-1,3,5-triazine and 2-[4-[(2-Hydroxy-3-tridecyloxypropyl)oxy]-2-hydroxyphenyl]-4,6-bis(2,4-dimethylphenyl)-1,3,5-triazine. 
     
     
         19 . The coating of  claim 13 , wherein the photoinitiator comprises oligo[2-hydroxy-2-methyl-1-[4-(1-methylvinyl)phenyl] propanone] and 2-hydroxy-2-methyl-1-phenyl propan-1-one. 
     
     
         20 . The coating of  claim 13 , wherein the film comprises polymethylmethacrylate.