Use Of Reactive Gases In The Tempering Process Towards Ultra-Thin Glasses For Solar Energy Applications

The LIMES project (Light Innovative Materials for Enhanced Solar Efficiency) is a fruitful collaboration to optimise many different properties in state-of-the-art solar glasses for photovoltaic (PV) modules. The bulk optical properties are optimised by adding fluorescent elements that absorbs harmful UV-radiation whole increasing the overall efficiency in the visible part of the solar spectrum. Functional coatings that are both anti-reflective and self-cleaning are being studied. This work investigates routes to achieve thin thermally toughened cover glasses with enhanced mechanical and chemical properties. A promising route to achieve this is by thermal toughening in reactive gases.