Float, borosilicate and tellurites as cover glasses in Si photovoltaics: Optical properties and performances under sunlight

One of the most significant materials in a solar panel is the glass, which provides transparency, UV protection as well as mechanical and chemical resistance. In this work, we describe the production of prototypes of four solar modules made using borosilicate, zinc-tellurite, Pr3+ doped zinc-tellurite, and float glass as cover materials. The performance of these prototypes was evaluated under a solar simulator, and a device was developed to monitor all prototypes under real conditions. A comparison between indoor and outdoor measurements shows that outdoor results are fundamental to evaluate the performance of modified solar modules as the ones considered in this study. In addition, we demonstrate the fundamental role played by the refractive index of cover glasses in the performance of the prototypes, and discuss how this feature could be explored to achieve enhanced devices, as well as other benefits that may arise from this field of research. •Four glasses were used to build prototypes of solar photovoltaic panels.•An affordable tool to monitor the power output of the prototypes is demonstrated.•The performance of these devices during an entire day was measured.•Reflection losses due to the high refractive index of tellurites were quantified.•The development of practical spectral converters is discussed.