Thin-Film LSCs Based on PMMA Nanohybrid Coatings: Device Optimization and Outdoor Performance

Abstract

This study concerns the design optimization of thin-film luminescent solar concentrators (TLSCs) based on polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA)/silica nanohybrid films doped with coumarin dyestuffs specialized in coloring plastics. Two designs of TLSCs had been prepared and characterized. The first consists of a transparent nanohybrid layer coated on a fluorescent PMMA substrate. The second design is the ordinary configuration in which fluorescent nanohybrid layer is coated on a transparent PMMA substrate. The investigation of the spectral properties and efficiency parameters recommended the best solar energy conversion efficiency for the second design. The outdoor performance of optimized TLSC was also evaluated under clear sky conditions of Riyadh city, and the hourly values of the optical efficiency,ηopt, were calculated for one year. The best performance was achieved in summer since the short circuit current for PV cell was doubled after being attached to TLSC and the value ofηoptreached 40% which is higher than other values recorded before due to the abundant solar energy potential in the Arabian Peninsula.

The properties of PMMA/DCJTB thin-film luminescent solar concentrator with various thicknesses

“…This phenomenon characterizes the p-p * transition in the carbonyl groups of PMMA (El-Bashir et al, 2013). In the present study, the absorption characteristics in the ultraviolet region correspond to the results of the previous studies mentioned above (Hammam et al, 2007;El-Bashir et al, 2013).…”

Optimization of large-size glass laminated luminescent solar concentrators

“…The output power increase is mainly attributed to the increase of silicon solar cells number (61 Â 122 cm 2 GL-LSC is coupled with twenty 15.6 Â 0.7 cm 2 silicon solar cells, while 7.8 Â 7.8 cm 2 GL-LSC is only coupled with four 7.8 Â 0.7 cm 2 silicon solar cells). The low PCE is due to the re-absorption of luminescent materials and transport losses including scattering of matrix material, dust or imperfections (Correia et al, 2014;Debije et al, 2008;El-Bashir et al, 2013;Wang et al, 2011).…”

“…The PCE of LSC are calculated as the following (Correia et al, 2014;El-Bashir et al, 2013;Wang et al, 2011):…”

Red photoluminescent PMMA nanohybrid films for modifying the spectral distribution of solar radiation inside greenhouses

“…where S a and S F are the areas of the absorption and fluorescence bands of the FSC photoselective film normalized to solar spectra, R f is the Fresenl's reflection coefficient and h trap is the photon trapping efficiency of the host matrix calculated as mentioned in our previous work [8].…”

“…In particular, the photophysical properties of PMMA nanohybrids have received considerable attention for optoelectronic devices [2], optical coatings [3], contact lenses [4], optical switches [5], optical waveguides [6], nonlinear optical devices [7] and luminescent solar concentrators (LSCs) [8]. The configuration of LSC is illustrated in Fig.…”