Transparent and colored solar photovoltaics for building integration

Abstract

Building-integrated photovoltaics (BIPVs) stand as a promising solution to provide renewable electricity for achieving zero-energy buildings, although still hindered from large-scale implementations due to the difficulty of traditional photovoltaic modules in meeting the standards and aesthetics of architectural materials. The emergence of new photovoltaic materials and devices could pave the way for the future through offering diversity and tunability in colors and transparency along with comparable performance. Herein the recent advances in BIPVs are discussed, starting from an overview of various photovoltaic technologies regarding their material characteristics, state of the art, and adaptability to the built environment. The transparent and colored photovoltaic technologies are then respectively emphasized, concerning design principles, theoretical analysis, technical routes, and corresponding demonstration studies. The various strategies, including the materials and structures adopted to modify the transparency and color of solar cells, are highlighted. Finally, the challenges and future perspectives are addressed, followed by an outlook on factors that are critical for large-scale implementation of BIPVs in the future.