Patent ID: 8303124

Claim:
A concentrating solar power apparatus including at least one mirror, the concentrating solar power apparatus comprising: a bent laminate mirror comprising a thick glass substrate having a thickness of at least 2.0 mm, a thin glass substrate having a thickness of from about 1.0 to 2.0 mm, and a mirror coating formed on the thin glass substrate, the thick glass substrate being thicker than the thin glass substrate, the thin glass substrate being laminated to the thick glass substrate with at least one adhesive layer so that the adhesive layer and the mirror coating are both located between the thin and thick glass substrates; wherein the mirror coating is removed from at least one peripheral edge of the thin glass substrate, and wherein the adhesive layer directly contacts both the thin and thick glass substrates in areas proximate the at least one peripheral edge from which the mirror coating is removed; wherein the bent laminate mirror is substantially parabolic in shape and has a solar reflectance of at least 90%; wherein the adhesive layer is a polymer inclusive adhesive layer; and wherein the mirror coating comprises a nucleation layer comprising at least one of tin and palladium adjacent the thin glass substrate, a reflective layer comprising silver, and a passivation layer, wherein the passivation layer is in direct contact with the polymer inclusive adhesive layer of the laminate mirror, and wherein the passivation layer comprises one or more of copper, tin oxide, and/or silane(s).