Controlling Light Emission in Luminescent Solar Concentrators Through Use of Dye Molecules Aligned in a Planar Manner by Liquid Crystals

Verbunt, Paul P. C.; Kaiser, Anton; Hermans, Ko; Bastiaansen, Cees W. M.; Broer, Dirk J.; Debije, Michael G.

doi:10.1002/adfm.200900542

Cited by 113 publications

(112 citation statements)

References 40 publications

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“…There are a number of possible ways of aligning the luminophores, such as using self-aligning fluorescent nanorods, [57] incorporating the materials in a polymeric sheet which can be physically stretched to impose alignment, [58] or mixture in a host that itself may be spontaneously aligned, such as a liquid crystal. [59] See Figure 5 for a depiction of some of the dye orientations possible using liquid crystals.…”

Section: Aligned Luminophoresmentioning

confidence: 99%

Thirty Years of Luminescent Solar Concentrator Research: Solar Energy for the Built Environment

Debije

Verbunt

2011

Advanced Energy Materials

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Research on the luminescent solar concentrator (LSC) over the past thirty‐odd years is reviewed. The LSC is a simple device at its heart, employing a polymeric or glass waveguide and luminescent molecules to generate electricity from sunlight when attached to a photovoltaic cell. The LSC has the potential to find extended use in an area traditionally difficult for effective use of regular photovoltaic panels: the built environment. The LSC is a device very flexible in its design, with a variety of possible shapes and colors. The primary challenge faced by the devices is increasing their photon‐to‐electron conversion efficiencies. A number of laboratories are working to improve the efficiency and lifetime of the LSC device, with the ultimate goal of commercializing the devices within a few years. The topics covered here relate to the efforts for reducing losses in these devices. These include studies of novel luminophores, including organic fluorescent dyes, inorganic phosphors, and quantum dots. Ways to limit the surface and internal losses are also discussed, including using organic and inorganic‐based selective mirrors which allow sunlight in but reflect luminophore‐emitted light, plasmonic structures to enhance emissions, novel photovoltaics, alignment of the luminophores to manipulate the path of the emitted light, and patterning of the dye layer to improve emission efficiency. Finally, some possible ‘glimpses of the future’ are offered, with additional research paths that could result in a device that makes solar energy a ubiquitous part of the urban setting, finding use as sound barriers, bus‐stop roofs, awnings, windows, paving, or siding tiles.

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Section: Aligned Luminophoresmentioning

confidence: 99%

Thirty Years of Luminescent Solar Concentrator Research: Solar Energy for the Built Environment

Debije

Verbunt

2011

Advanced Energy Materials

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829

689

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“…With a perfect wavelength-selective filter, in principle a very high concentration (of several thousands) can conceivably be achieved [9]. Another way to reduce escape losses, which we will not discuss further, is the use of directional emission by the luminescent material [10]. Considering the preceding discussion, the major challenges for designing an efficient LSC can be elucidated.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Progress in phosphors and filters for luminescent solar concentrators

Boer¹,

Broer²,

Debije³

et al. 2012

Opt. Express

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Luminescent solar concentrators would allow for high concentration if losses by reabsorption and escape could be minimized. We introduce a phosphor with close-to-optimal luminescent properties and hardly any reabsorption. A problem for use in a luminescent concentrator is the large scattering of this material; we discuss possible solutions for this. Furthermore, the use of broad-band cholesteric filters to prevent escape of luminescent radiation from this phosphor is investigated both experimentally and using simulations. Simulations are also used to predict the ultimate performance of luminescent concentrators. ©2012 Optical Society of America

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“…That dye alignment has an impact on the emission of a LSC waveguide system has been verified in experiments employing liquid crystals as the aligning medium [19][20][21] and is also supported by Monte-Carlo simulations [22]. Planar alignment, for example, resulted in emission light exiting primarily two waveguide edges.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 83%

Anisotropic light emissions in luminescent solar concentrators–isotropic systems

Verbunt¹,

Sánchez‐Somolinos²,

Broer³

et al. 2013

Opt. Express

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Abstract:In this paper we develop a model to describe the emission profile from randomly oriented dichroic dye molecules in a luminescent solar concentrator (LSC) waveguide as a function of incoming light direction. The resulting emission is non-isotropic, in contradiction to what is used in almost all previous simulations on the performance of LSCs, and helps explain the large surface losses measured in these devices. To achieve more precise LSC performance simulations we suggest that the dichroic nature of the dyes must be included in the future modeling efforts.

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Controlling Light Emission in Luminescent Solar Concentrators Through Use of Dye Molecules Aligned in a Planar Manner by Liquid Crystals

Cited by 113 publications

References 40 publications

Thirty Years of Luminescent Solar Concentrator Research: Solar Energy for the Built Environment

Thirty Years of Luminescent Solar Concentrator Research: Solar Energy for the Built Environment

Progress in phosphors and filters for luminescent solar concentrators

Anisotropic light emissions in luminescent solar concentrators–isotropic systems

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