Optical technologies in the long-wave infrared (LWIR) spectrum (7-14 mm) offer important advantages for high-resolution thermal imaging in near or complete darkness. The use of polymeric transmissive materials for IR imaging offers numerous cost and processing advantages but suffers from inferior optical properties in the LWIR spectrum. A major challenge in the design of LWIR-transparent organic materials is that nearly all organic molecules absorb in this spectral windoww hichl ies within the so-called IR-fingerprint region. We report on an ew molecular-design approacht o prepare high refractive index polymers with enhanced LWIR transparency.Computational methods were used to accelerate the design of novel molecules and polymers.U sing this approach,w eh ave prepared chalcogenide hybrid inorganic/ organic polymers (CHIPs) with enhanced LWIR transparency and thermomechanical properties via inverse vulcanization of elemental sulfur with new organic co-monomers.
We report on the fabrication of wholly polymeric onedimensional (1-D) photonic crystals (i.e., Bragg reflectors, Bragg mirrors) via solution processing for use in the near (NIR) and the short wave (SWIR) infrared spectrum (1−2 μm) with very high reflectance (R ∼ 90−97%). Facile fabrication of these highly reflective films was enabled by direct access to solution processable, ultrahigh refractive index polymers, termed, Chalcogenide Hybrid Inorganic/ Organic Polymers (CHIPs). The high refractive index (n) of CHIPs materials (n = 1.75−2.10) allowed for the production of narrow band IR Bragg reflectors with high refractive index contrast (Δn ∼ 0.5) when fabricated with low n polymers, such as cellulose acetate (n = 1.47). This is the highest refractive index contrast (Δn ∼ 0.5) demonstrated for an all-polymeric Bragg mirror which directly enabled high reflectivity from films with 22 layers or less. Facile access to modular, thin, highly reflective films from inexpensive CHIPs materials offers a new route to IR Bragg reflectors and other reflective coatings with potential applications for IR photonics, commercial sensing, and LIDAR applications.
Hybrid thermal-PV solar trough collectors combine concentrated photovoltaics and concentrated solar power technology to harvest and store solar energy. In this work, the optical and mechanical requirements for optimal efficiency are analyzed using non-sequential ray tracing techniques. The results are used to generate opto-mechanical tolerances that can be compared to those of traditional solar collectors. We also explore ideas on how to relieve tracking tolerances for single-axis solar collectors. The objective is to establish a basis for tolerances required for the fabrication and manufacturing of hybrid solar trough collectors.
Optical technologies in the long-wave infrared (LWIR) spectrum (7-14 mm) offer important advantages for high-resolution thermal imaging in near or complete darkness. The use of polymeric transmissive materials for IR imaging offers numerous cost and processing advantages but suffers from inferior optical properties in the LWIR spectrum. A major challenge in the design of LWIR-transparent organic materials is that nearly all organic molecules absorb in this spectral windoww hichl ies within the so-called IR-fingerprint region. We report on an ew molecular-design approacht o prepare high refractive index polymers with enhanced LWIR transparency.Computational methods were used to accelerate the design of novel molecules and polymers.U sing this approach,w eh ave prepared chalcogenide hybrid inorganic/ organic polymers (CHIPs) with enhanced LWIR transparency and thermomechanical properties via inverse vulcanization of elemental sulfur with new organic co-monomers.
The use of silicone optical elements is demonstrated for a concentrated photovoltaic system. These components show over 96% transmission through most of the solar spectrum and excellent temperature stability. Unique moldability enables the use of complex freeform designs. A light, compact, and cost-effective concentrated photovoltaic system based on silicone optics is proposed. In this system, air-plasma treatment is utilized to overcome the mechanical properties of silicone and difficulties with coating to reduce Fresnel loss. Lens arrays and waveguides are fabricated by injection molding following freeform optical design by LightTools. First-order characterizations are also performed.
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