Solar energy funneling using thermoplastics for agricultural applications

• US 9,204,598 B2
• Filed: 07/09/2013
• Issued: 12/08/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 05/27/2013
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Saudi Basic Industries Corporation (Government of Saudi Arabia)
• Original Assignee: Saudi Basic Industries Corporation (Government of Saudi Arabia)
• Inventors: Velate, Suresh, Nadkarni, Pradeep Jeevaji, Sait, M. Meerakani, Vasudevan, Vinod Kumar, Nedumbamana, Sankaran
• Primary Examiner(s): Koslow, Carol M
• Application Number:
  US13/937,963
• Publication Number:
  US 20140345195A1
• Time in Patent Office: 882 Days
• Field of Search: 252/301.35, 47/581.LS, 428/220, 428/690
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 7/045 with electric lighting
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 9/1407 of flexible synthetic material
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 9/1438 Covering materials therefor; Materials for protective coverings used for soil and plants, e.g. films, canopies, tunnels or cloches
• CPC Class Codes: C09K 11/02 Use of particular materials as binders, particle coatings or suspension media therefor
• CPC Class Codes: C09K 11/06 containing organic luminescent materials
• CPC Class Codes: C09K 2211/1007 Non-condensed systems
• CPC Class Codes: C09K 2211/1011 Condensed systems
• CPC Class Codes: C09K 2211/1014 bridged by heteroatoms, e.g. N, P, Si or B
• CPC Class Codes: C09K 2211/1044 containing two nitrogen atoms as heteroatoms
• CPC Class Codes: C09K 2211/1475 containing nitrogen and oxygen as heteroatoms
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 40/25 Greenhouse technology, e.g. cooling systems therefor
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 60/12 using renewable energies, e.g. solar water pumping

Abstract

Disclosed is a wavelength-conversion material, and methods for its use, that includes an organic fluorescent dye and a polymeric matrix, wherein the organic fluorescent dye is solubilized in the polymeric matrix, and wherein the polymeric matrix is capable of absorbing light comprising a wavelength of 500 to 700 nm and emitting the absorbed light at a wavelength of greater than 550 to 800 nm.

Claims

1. A method of increasing the red to far red (R:

FR) ratio of red light that a plant receives comprising;

(a) converting light comprising a wavelength of 500 to 700 nm into light comprising a wavelength of greater than 550 to 800 nm with a wavelength-conversion material comprising;

(i) an organic fluorescent dye; and

(ii) a polymeric matrix,

wherein the organic fluorescent dye is solubilized into the polymeric matrix, and

wherein the wavelength conversion material is a film having a thickness of 0.5 to 3 mm, and

(b) subjecting the plant to the converted light,

wherein the R;

FR ratio of red light that a plant receives is increased by at least 5% or more in the presence of the converted light when compared with the R;

FR ratio of red light that a plant receives in the absence of said converted light.

2. The method of claim of 1, wherein the wavelength conversion material is transparent or translucent.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the film is a single-layered or multi-layered film.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the material is included in a greenhouse, a terrarium, a conservatory, a herbarium, an arboretum, a nursery, or a bioreactor.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the organic fluorescent dye or the wavelength-conversion material has a stoke shift of 60 to 120 nm.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the organic fluorescent dye is thermally stable at a temperature from 200 to 350°

C.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the organic fluorescent dye is capable of absorbing light comprising a wavelength of 500 to 600 nm and emitting the absorbed light at a wavelength of greater than 600 to 800 nm.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the organic fluorescent dye is a perylene containing compound.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the perylene containing compound is a perylene diimide.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the perylene diimide has a structure of:

11. The method of claim 8, wherein the perylene containing compound has a structure of:

12. The method of claim 8, wherein the perylene organic fluorescent dye is a perinone containing compound.

13. The method of claim 7, further comprising an additional organic fluorescent dye, wherein the organic fluorescent dye is a coumarin dye, a carbocyanine dye, a phthalocyanine dye, an oxazine dye, a carbostyryl dye, a porphyrin dye, an acridine dye, an anthraquinone dye, an arylmethane dye, a quinone imine dye, a thiazole dye, a bis-benzoxazolylthiophene (BBOT) dye, or a xanthene dye, or any combination of dyes thereof.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the polymeric matrix comprises a polyolefin and wherein the polyolefin is a polyethylene or polypropylene polymer.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the polyethylene polymer is a low-density polyethylene polymer, a linear low-density polyethylene polymer, or a high-density polyethylene polymer.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein the polymeric matrix further comprises an additive.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the additive is an ultraviolet absorbing compound, an optical brightener, an ultraviolet stabilizing agent, a heat stabilizer, a diffuser, a mold releasing agent, an antioxidant, an antifogging agent, a clarifier, a nucleating agent, a phosphite or a phosphonite or both, a light stabilizer, a singlet oxygen quencher, a processing aid, an antistatic agent, a filler or a reinforcing material, or any combination thereof.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the additive is a diketopyrrolo-pyrrole containing compound having a structure of:

19. The method of claim 16, wherein the polymeric matrix comprises a second, third, fourth, or fifth organic fluorescent dye.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the ratio of the organic fluorescent dye to the second organic fluorescent dye is 1:

50 to 1;

1.

21. The method of claim 16, wherein the polymer matrix further comprises an ultraviolet light absorbing compound that is capable of absorbing ultraviolet light comprising a wavelength of 280 to 400 nm.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the ultraviolet light absorbing compound is capable of emitting said absorbed light in the range of 400 to 800 nm.

23. The method of claim 1, wherein the polymeric matrix further comprises a diffuser.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein the diffuser is a silica-based compound.

25. The method of claim 23, wherein the diffuser is an inorganic material comprising antimony, titanium, barium, or zinc, or oxides thereof, and mixtures thereof.

26. The method of claim 1, wherein the polymeric matrix comprises a polycarbonate.

27. A method of growing a plant comprising:

(a) converting light comprising a wavelength of 500 to 700 nm into light comprising a wavelength of greater than 550 to 800 nm with a wavelength-conversion material comprising;

(i) an organic fluorescent dye; and

(ii) a polymeric matrix,

wherein the organic fluorescent dye is solubilized into the polymeric matrix, and

wherein the wavelength conversion material is a film having a thickness of 0.5 to 3 mm, and

(b) subjecting the plant to the converted light.

28. A method of increasing the red to far red (R:

FR) ratio of red light that a plant receives comprising;

(a) converting light comprising a wavelength of 500 to 700 nm into light comprising a wavelength of greater than 550 to 800 nm with a wavelength-conversion material comprising;

(i) an organic fluorescent dye, and

(iii) a polymeric matrix,

wherein the polymeric matrix comprises a diffuser, and

wherein the organic fluorescent dye is solubilized into the polymeric matrix, and

(b) subjecting the plant to the converted light,

wherein the R;

FR ratio of red light that a plant receives is increased by at least 5% or more in the presence of the converted light when compared with the R;

FR ratio of red light that a plant receives in the absence of said converted light.

29. A method of growing a plant comprising:

(a) converting light comprising a wavelength of 500 to 700 nm into light comprising a wavelength of greater than 550 to 800 nm with a wavelength-conversion material comprising;

(i) an organic fluorescent dye; and

(ii) a polymeric matrix,

wherein the polymeric matrix comprises a diffuser, and

wherein the organic fluorescent dye is solubilized into the polymeric matrix, and

(b) subjecting the plant to the converted light.

30. A method of increasing the red to far red (R:

FR) ratio of red light that a plant receives comprising;

(a) converting light comprising a wavelength of 500 to 700 nm into light comprising a wavelength of greater than 550 to 800 nm with a wavelength-conversion material comprising;

(i) an organic fluorescent dye, and

(iii) a polymeric matrix,

wherein the organic fluorescent dye is solubilized into the polymeric matrix, and

wherein the polymeric matrix comprises an additive selected from;

(1) a diketopyrrolo-pyrrole containing compound having a structure of;

31. A method of growing a plant comprising:

(a) converting light comprising a wavelength of 500 to 700 nm into light comprising a wavelength of greater than 550 to 800 nm with a wavelength-conversion material comprising;

(i) an organic fluorescent dye; and

(ii) a polymeric matrix,

wherein the organic fluorescent dye is solubilized into the polymeric matrix, and

wherein the polymeric matrix comprises an additive selected from;

(1) a diketopyrrolo-pyrrole containing compound having a structure of;

32. A method of increasing the red to far red (R:

FR) ratio of red light that a plant receives comprising;

(a) converting light comprising a wavelength of 500 to 700 nm into light comprising a wavelength of greater than 550 to 800 nm with a wavelength-conversion material comprising;

(i) an organic fluorescent dye, and

(iii) a polymeric matrix,

wherein the organic fluorescent dye is solubilized into the polymeric matrix, and

wherein organic fluorescent dye is;

(1) a perylene organic fluorescent dye having a perinone containing compound;

or

(2) a perylene containing compound having a structure of;

33. A method of growing a plant comprising:

(a) converting light comprising a wavelength of 500 to 700 nm into light comprising a wavelength of greater than 550 to 800 nm with a wavelength-conversion material comprising;

(i) an organic fluorescent dye; and

(ii) a polymeric matrix,

wherein the organic fluorescent dye is solubilized into the polymeric matrix, and

wherein organic fluorescent dye is;

(1) a perylene organic fluorescent dye having a perinone containing compound;

or

(2) a perylene containing compound having a structure of;