Sustainable luminescent solar concentrators based on organic–inorganic hybrids modified with chlorophyll

Frias, Ana R.; Pécoraro, Édison; Correia, Sandra F. H.; Minas, L.M.G.; Bastos, Ana R. N.; Garcı́a-Revilla, Sara; Balda, Rolindes; Ribeiro, Sidney J. L.; André, Paulo S.; Carlos, Luı́s D.; Ferreira, Rute A. S.

doi:10.1039/c8ta01712c

Cited by 42 publications

(33 citation statements)

References 74 publications

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“…Using an optical-fiber drawing facility, the same group extended their previous studies by scaling up large-area LSCs (up to 2.5 m) based on bulk and hollow-core optical fibers (Figure 1A), using rhodamine 6G-or Eu 3+ -doped hybrids based on two different matrices, namely a di-ureasil and a tripodal tri-ureasil system (Correia et al, 2016). Efforts on the use of tri-and di-ureasil compounds as host matrices in LSCs have also focused on their combination with different doping species in planar devices (Nolasco et al, 2013;Rondão et al, 2017;Frias et al, 2018).…”

Section: Organic-inorganic Hybrid Matricesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Host Matrix Materials for Luminescent Solar Concentrators: Recent Achievements and Forthcoming Challenges

Griffini

2019

Front. Mater.

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Luminescent solar concentrators (LSCs) have attracted increasing attention in the past few years as appealing solar energy technology for the seamless integration of photovoltaic (PV) systems into the built environment. Traditionally, research in this field has focused on two main aspects: the optimization of the device assembly, in the quest for more efficient architectures to maximize collection, transport, and conversion of photons into usable electrical energy; the development of novel, highly emissive luminescent species, to ensure broad light collection and efficient photon emission. Only recently, the attention has also been directed toward the selection and development of suitable host matrix/waveguide materials with appropriate optical properties, sufficient chemical compatibility with the guest luminescent species, good processability for easy device fabrication and prolonged durability in outdoor operation. In addition to consolidated polymeric systems based on polyacrylates or polycarbonates, in recent years different examples of alternative host matrix systems have been proposed, characterized by peculiar chemical, physical and optical characteristics specifically designed to meet the stringent requirements of the LSC technology. This mini-review will focus on recent developments in the design of new host matrix materials for LSC applications. An overview of the most recent examples of novel LSC host matrices will be provided here, mainly focusing on new polymers, polymer-based organic-inorganic hybrids and multifunctional organic systems. Finally, opportunities and challenges in the field will be considered in view of the effective exploitation of the LSC technology in real application scenarios.

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Section: Organic-inorganic Hybrid Matricesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Host Matrix Materials for Luminescent Solar Concentrators: Recent Achievements and Forthcoming Challenges

Griffini

2019

Front. Mater.

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“…The choice of waveguide is also important, since both the donor and acceptor lumophores must be well-dispersed through the host. A family of organic-inorganic hybrid polymers known as ureasils have been demonstrated as excellent waveguides for LSCs 32,33,34,35 and other optical applications. 36 As hybrid materials, ureasils combine the easy processability and chemical functionality of organic polymers with the high optical transparency and stability of the typical inorganic waveguides.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Luminescent Solar Concentrators Based on Energy Transfer from an Aggregation-Induced Emitter Conjugated Polymer

Lyu,

Kendall,

Meazzini

et al. 2019

Preprint

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Luminescent solar concentrators (LSCs) are solar-harvesting devices fabricated from transparent waveguide that is doped or coated with lumophores. Despite their potential for architectural integration, the optical efficiency of LSCs is often limited by incomplete harvesting of solar radiation and aggregation-caused quenching (ACQ) of lumophores in the solid state. Here, we demonstrate a multi-lumophore LSC design which circumvents these challenges through a combination of non-radiative Förster energy transfer (FRET) and aggregation-induced emission (AIE). The LSC incorporates a green-emitting poly(tetraphenylethylene), p-O-TPE, as an energy donor and a red-emitting perylene bisimide molecular dye (PDI-Sil) as the energy acceptor, within an organic-inorganic hybrid di-ureasil waveguide. Steady-state photoluminescence studies demonstrate that the di-ureasil host induced AIE from the p-O-PTE donor polymer, leading to a high photoluminescence quantum yield (PLQY) of ~45% and a large Stokes shift of ~150 nm.Covalent grafting of the PDI-Sil acceptor to the siliceous domains of the di-ureasil waveguide also inhibits non-radiative losses by preventing molecular aggregation. Due to the excellent spectral overlap, FRET was shown to occur from p-O-TPE to PDI-Sil, which increased with acceptor concentration. As a result, the final LSC (4.5 cm ´ 4.5 cm ´ 0.3 cm) with an optimised donoracceptor ratio (1:1 by wt%) exhibited an internal photon efficiency of 20%, demonstrating a viable design for LSCs utilising an AIE-based FRET approach to improve the solar-harvesting performance.reduced loss of absorbed photons as a result of the FRET process. Enhancement in the external photon efficiency of the donor-acceptor LSC was also observed due to the extended solarharvesting window provided by the complementary absorption spectra of the dual lumophore system. The results also demonstrate the importance of lumophore-waveguide interactions in determining the final LSC efficiency. Here, the di-ureasil waveguide is used to promote aggregation and thus switch-on emission from the AIE-donor, while simultaneously covalent grafting of the acceptor reduces ACQ. This study therefore demonstrates that the bottom-up design of integrated lumophore-waveguide materials is a viable strategy to overcome the intrinsic optical losses of LSCs and to boost their solar-harvesting performance. ASSOCIATED CONTENTSupporting Information.

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“…A Monte Carlo ray-tracing model was used to simulate the performance of the LSCs, in which the photon propagation follows geometrical optical laws [55]. The details of the simulation are described elsewhere [14] and in the Supplementary Information. The input data for Monte Carlo ray-tracing simulation are the solar spectrum AM1.5G (280-1600 nm), the absorption, and emission spectra, the absolute emission quantum yield and dispersion curve of the PMMA-Ln samples ( Figure S6 and Figure S7 in Supplementary Information).…”

Section: Modellingmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Furthermore, LSCs will also impact wearable fabrics and mobile energy [13]. In fact, previous studies report the possibility of charging low-voltage devices, such as mobile phones, sensors, and Wi-Fi routers by using LSCs as windows [14].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Transparent Luminescent Solar Concentrators Using Ln3+-Based Ionosilicas Towards Photovoltaic Windows

et al. 2019

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The integration of photovoltaic (PV) elements in urban environments is gaining visibility due to the current interest in developing energetically self-sustainable buildings. Luminescent solar concentrators (LSCs) may be seen as a solution to convert urban elements, such as façades and windows, into energy-generation units for zero-energy buildings. Moreover, LSCs are able to reduce the mismatch between the AM1.5G spectrum and the PV cells absorption. In this work, we report optically active coatings for LSCs based on lanthanide ions (Ln3+ = Eu3+, Tb3+)-doped surface functionalized ionosilicas (ISs) embedded in poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA). These new visible-emitting films exhibit large Stokes-shift, enabling the production of transparent coatings with negligible self-absorption and large molar extinction coefficient and brightness values (~2 × 105 and ~104 M−1∙cm−1, respectively) analogous to that of orange/red-emitting organic dyes. LSCs showed great potential for efficient and environmentally resistant devices, with optical conversion efficiency values of ~0.27% and ~0.34%, respectively.

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Sustainable luminescent solar concentrators based on organic–inorganic hybrids modified with chlorophyll

Abstract: Development of natural-based luminescent solar concentrators able to convert sunlight into specific wavelengths which are guided by total internal reflection to a PV device featuring reliable, sustainable and competitive energy systems.

Cited by 42 publications

References 74 publications

Host Matrix Materials for Luminescent Solar Concentrators: Recent Achievements and Forthcoming Challenges

Host Matrix Materials for Luminescent Solar Concentrators: Recent Achievements and Forthcoming Challenges

Luminescent Solar Concentrators Based on Energy Transfer from an Aggregation-Induced Emitter Conjugated Polymer

Transparent Luminescent Solar Concentrators Using Ln3+-Based Ionosilicas Towards Photovoltaic Windows

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