Luminescent Solar Concentrators: A Review of Nanoengineering Opportunities for Reducing Surface Losses

Oliveto, Vincent; Boyd, C.; Smith, Duncan E.; Hughes, Michael D.; Borca-Tasciuc, Diana-Andra

doi:10.1109/tnano.2022.3188962

Cited by 5 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 63 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…While most LSC research focuses on improving the chemistry of the luminophores or plastic slabs, there has been growing interest in the photonic design and management of the photoluminescence [8]. Such examples include using filters to trap the photoluminescence [7], aligning anisotropically emitting luminophores [9], and nanophotonic elements that reshape the luminescence direction of nearby luminophores [10]- [12].…”

Section: Photonic Luminescent Solar Concentratorsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Photonic luminescent solar concentrator designs for high efficiency, low-cost photovoltaics

Eisler,

Parsons,

Dudala

2023

New Concepts in Solar and Thermal Radiation Conversion V

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Transformative solar technologies with high efficiencies and low costs are required to increase the deployment of solar cells. Luminescent solar concentrators (LSCs) have the potential to enable these designs but have not achieved significant efficiencies. First, we will explore a generalized model to elucidate the necessary light trapping requirements for high concentration LSCs. Because the light trapping necessary will require nanophotonic elements, we will explore a design which uses CdSe/CdS quantum dots embedded in a 1-D photonic crystal (SiO2 and Si3N4). Angular emission measurements of a prototype show a significant decrease in the escape loss and reduced reabsorption losses.

show abstract

Section: Photonic Luminescent Solar Concentratorsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Photonic luminescent solar concentrator designs for high efficiency, low-cost photovoltaics

Eisler,

Parsons,

Dudala

2023

New Concepts in Solar and Thermal Radiation Conversion V

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Secondly, the resulting fluorescence emission should be waveguided towards the edges by total internal reflection, with minimal losses through the surfaces. Surface loss is defined as the loss of light that escapes the critical cone of refraction through the surface of the film without being internally reflected [31].…”

Section: Liquid Crystals As Host Materialsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Liquid Crystals for Luminescent Concentrators: A Review

Surampudi,

Zhang,

Singh

et al. 2023

Crystals

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Luminescent optical concentrators are thin films containing fluorescent dyes that enable light collection over a wide field of view without the need to track the path of the Sun. However, a disadvantage when using luminescent concentrators is that the performance is often impeded by surface losses through these films. Liquid-crystal (LC) hosts are attractive for luminescent concentrators, as they impart, at the very least, an orientational ordering to the transition dipole moment of the dyes dispersed within these films. This enables the directivity of both the absorption and emission and can reduce surface losses by, for example, adopting the homeotropic alignment of the LC director. This article reviews the developments and applications of LCs to luminescent optical concentrators and describes the strategies that have been introduced to further combat losses by decoupling the absorption and emission processes through Förster energy transfer, the approaches employed to enhance the chemical structures of the dyes, and the methods of using alternative LC phases and external configurations. The review presents a comprehensive summary of the material combinations and the techniques that have been considered in the development of LC-based concentrator films and concludes with a discussion about the future perspectives for these exciting optical concentrators.

show abstract

Monte Carlo Modeling of a High‐Efficiency Tandem Luminescent Solar Concentrator Containing a Polarization Volume Grating Layer

Zohrabi,

Ehsani‐Tabar,

Esmaeili

et al. 2024

Advanced Photonics Research

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

This article develops a Monte Carlo model to optimize a newly introduced tandem luminescent solar concentrator. This innovative structure comprises two parallel transparent polymeric waveguides separated by an air gap. The first waveguide, which is exposed to sunlight, contains fluorophores and performs as a traditional luminescent solar concentrator. In contrast, the second waveguide is equipped with an inner polarization volume grating layer, strategically placed to couple the emitted photons within the escape cone, directing them into the second waveguide and preventing reabsorption. The finite difference time domain method is employed to optimize the performance of this grating. The results show a significant improvement in external photon efficiency compared to the conventional luminescent solar concentrator.

show abstract

Luminescent Solar Concentrators: A Review of Nanoengineering Opportunities for Reducing Surface Losses

Cited by 5 publications

References 63 publications

Photonic luminescent solar concentrator designs for high efficiency, low-cost photovoltaics

Photonic luminescent solar concentrator designs for high efficiency, low-cost photovoltaics

Liquid Crystals for Luminescent Concentrators: A Review

Monte Carlo Modeling of a High‐Efficiency Tandem Luminescent Solar Concentrator Containing a Polarization Volume Grating Layer

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About