Utilizing vertically aligned CdSe/CdS nanorods within a luminescent solar concentrator

Abstract

Optical characterisation methodologies are employed to validate a nanorod self-alignment technique for use in luminescent solar concentrators (LSCs). The nanorods utilised in this work were CdSe/CdS core/shell nanorods, and the self-alignment technique relied on the evaporation of a highly concentrated nanorod/xylene solution onto a glass substrate. Position and angular dependent light absorptivity measurements revealed evidence of vertical nanorod alignment over a limited region at the centre of the LSC sample. Vertical nanorod alignment is beneficial for absorbing diffuse/scattered sunlight and provides for a high light trapping efficiency in the LSC.

Quantifying Order during Field-driven Alignment of Colloidal Semiconductor Nanorods

“…9 Previous studies have treated this non-ideal optical behavior by considering a linear combination of isotropic and dipole character. 4,5 As such, the expression for singleparticle absorption cross-section (eq 5) is modified according to eq 9:…”

“…The unique optical properties of individual NRs can be exploited at the macroscopic scale by assembling large populations of NRs into ordered superstructures. For instance, several studies have highlighted the promise of aligned anisotropic luminophores for application in luminescent solar concentrators 4,5,15 and liquid crystal displays 16,17 . The ensemble properties of NR assemblies are determined not only by the individual NR building blocks, but also by their meso-and macroscale ordering, as well as more complex inter-particle coupling effects.…”

Heavy Metal Free Nanocrystals with Near Infrared Emission Applying in Luminescent Solar Concentrator

“…Moreover, Lin et al had recently used the quantum disk shape NCs, with a negligible overlap between emission and absorption, in LSC to increase the PV's electrical power output . Other heterojunction structured NCs with a large “effective Stokes‐shift” like thick shell core‐shell structured QDs and QRs, or nanorods, had been also investigated for low reabsorption of LSCs . In these efforts, highly efficient NCs with Cd or Pb elements were frequently and successfully employed in LSCs, demonstrating good light converting, low reabsorption and high energy harvesting properties.…”

Quantifying Order during Field-driven Alignment of Colloidal Semiconductor Nanorods

“…Colloidal semiconductor nanorods (SC NRs) have been widely studied as potential building blocks for optoelectronic devices [1][2][3][4][5][6][7] due to their strong optical anisotropy, tunable band-edge emission and nearunity photoluminescence (PL) quantum yield. [8][9][10][11] These onedimensional nanocrystals exhibit stronger quantum confinement 12 perpendicular to their long axes, which modifies the spatial distribution of photoexcited charge carries, giving rise to pronounced optical anisotropy in the form of linearly polarized absorption and emission of light (see Figure 1).…”

“…13,14 The unique optical properties of individual NRs can be exploited at the macroscopic scale by assembling large populations of NRs into ordered superstructures. For instance, several studies have highlighted the promise of aligned anisotropic luminophores for application in luminescent solar concentrators 4,5,15 and liquid crystal displays 16,17 . The ensemble properties of NR assemblies are determined not only by the individual NR building blocks, but also by their meso-and macroscale ordering, as well as more complex inter-particle coupling effects.…”