Cylindrical luminescent solar concentrators with near-infrared quantum dots

Abstract

We investigate the performance of cylindrical luminescent solar concentrators (CLSCs) with near-infrared lead sulfide quantum dots (QDs) in the active region. We fabricate solid and hollow cylinders from a composite of QDs in polymethylmethacrylate, prepared by radical polymerization, and characterize sample homogeneity and optical properties using spectroscopic techniques. We additionally measure photo-stability and photocurrent outputs under both laboratory and external ambient conditions. The experimental results are in good agreement with theoretical calculations which demonstrate that the hollow CLSCs have higher absorption of incident radiation and lower self-absorption compared to solid cylindrical and planar geometries with similar geometric factors, resulting in a higher optical efficiency.

Optical Properties of Hybrid Organic‐Inorganic Materials and their Applications

“…[101,112] Cylindrical LSCs have a large potential compared with that of planar ones, despite the very small number of examples involving short length (10 −2 m) bulk or hollow-core POFs. [114][115][116] First, the concentration factor F (that dominates the devices' performance) of a cylindrical LSC can be twice higher than that of a square-planar one of equivalent collection area and volume. [117] Second, the cylindrical geometry allows an easier coupling with optical fibers that could transport light to a remote place for lighting or power production and renders easier photovoltaic urban integration.…”

Fluorescent Concentrators for Photovoltaic Applications

“…The semiconducting nanocrystals are often very sensitive as long as they are not embedded in a suitable, shielding matrix [117,118] preventing, for example, contact with oxygen. Embedding QDs while maintaining the nanocrystals as luminescent, single particles was achieved using two types of procedures: in situ or ex situ.…”

Luminescent Solar Concentrators with a Fibre Geometry

“…3) it would be possible to fabricate fiber LSCs containing multiple dyes or use another type of sensitizer such as inorganic semiconductor nanoparticles (see e.g [3,8,13,14,17,18].). For flat plate LSCs stacked layers containing different absorbers can be envisaged each attached to a PV cell with an optimal bandgap, as originally proposed by Goetzberger and Greubel [4].…”

“…As a response, McIntosh recently proposed a new geometry, the cylindrical LSC, which is estimated to be 1-1.9 times as efficient [6] as a flat plate LSC. This result has evoked questions on the applicability and optimal characteristics of the cylindrical LSC, see also [7,8]. The characteristic of a cylinder is that the longer and thinner it is, the larger the area-ratio between the illuminated surface and the edges.…”