Abstract: Illustrative embodiments of the invention generally relate to photovoltaics and solar energy harvesting devices and, particularly, to those that are transparent or semi-transparent, allowing sufficient visible light through them to allow visualization of objects through them, and more particularly, to those that supplement their primary near ultraviolet light absorption with secondary and/or tertiary absorptions of narrow bands of visible light while maintaining their transparency. Various embodiments of the invention relate to single solar materials with both primary ultraviolet absorption and secondary, narrow-band visible absorption, while some embodiments of the invention utilize mixtures of one or more materials to realize a primary ultraviolet absorption of light with secondary, or even tertiary, narrow bands of visible light absorption. Means of manufacturing such photovoltaics and solar energy harvesting devices will also be disclosed as well as the applications and uses thereof.

Abstract: Illustrative embodiments of the invention generally relate to photovoltaics and solar energy harvesting devices and, particularly, to those that are transparent or semi-transparent, allowing sufficient visible light through them to allow visualization of objects through them, and more particularly, to those that supplement their primary near ultraviolet light absorption with secondary and/or tertiary absorptions of narrow bands of visible light while maintaining their transparency. Various embodiments of the invention relate to single solar materials with both primary ultraviolet absorption and secondary, narrow-band visible absorption, while some embodiments of the invention utilize mixtures of one or more materials to realize a primary ultraviolet absorption of light with secondary, or even tertiary, narrow bands of visible light absorption. Means of manufacturing such photovoltaics and solar energy harvesting devices will also be disclosed as well as the applications and uses thereof.

Abstract: In one aspect, window inserts are described herein, which can modulate transmission of electromagnetic radiation through a window and can be self-powered. In some embodiments, a window insert comprises a photovoltaic device, the photovoltaic device including a photosensitive layer having peak absorption between 250 nm and 450 nm and an average transmittance of at least 50 percent in the visible region of the electromagnetic spectrum.