Luminescent Solar Collectors: Quo Vadis?

Abstract

Luminescent solar concentrators (LSCs) are optical systems that absorb, convert, and concentrate solar light by means of photoluminescence of an emitting material embedded in a transparent waveguide. LSCs combine large possibilities of variation of shape, flexibility, color, and transparency and can operate under direct or diffuse light. LSCs were actively investigated in the period 1975–1985 in view of photovoltaic (PV) conversion. After 20 years of sleep, research on LSCs has reemerged in the first years of the millennium driven by their potential application for PV conversion in built environment. Research on LSCs aims at the development of new active and passive components, namely emitting and light‐guiding materials, and at the reduction of the loss factors associated with the elemental processed involved in the operation in order to improve power conversion efficiency. After a brief historical account, the operating principles, characterization, components, technology, and applications are reviewed. Finally, the performance of LSCs are critically discussed in a global perspective with particular emphasis on the basic contradiction between light concentration and conversion efficiency leading to some suggestions for future development of the topic.

The Hidden Potential of Luminescent Solar Concentrators

“…The basic LSC device has been presented in this way for over 40 years, and has been reviewed many times for many journals during this period. [ 1–12 ] As a briefest summary: the LSC has been presented in many forms and sizes from a few square centimeters up to 5 m 2 [ 13 ] using a variety of luminescent species, including organic dyes, inorganic quantum dots and phosphors. [ 3,11,14,15 ] Device efficiencies tend to be modest, with values of 7.1% [ 16 ] for a device employing GaAs photovoltaics (PVs) and 4.2% using silicon PV [ 17 ] being among the highest reported.…”

“…[ 1–12 ] As a briefest summary: the LSC has been presented in many forms and sizes from a few square centimeters up to 5 m 2 [ 13 ] using a variety of luminescent species, including organic dyes, inorganic quantum dots and phosphors. [ 3,11,14,15 ] Device efficiencies tend to be modest, with values of 7.1% [ 16 ] for a device employing GaAs photovoltaics (PVs) and 4.2% using silicon PV [ 17 ] being among the highest reported. Some other notable examples of conventional LSC design deployments include noise barriers, [ 13,18 ] artworks, [ 19,20 ] greenhouses, [ 21 ] roofing elements, [ 22 ] urban furniture, [ 23 ] and bicycle sheds, [ 23,24 ] and, in the more transparent state, building windows, [ 25,26 ] among others.…”

“…The basic LSC device has been presented in this way for over 40 years, and has been reviewed many times for many journals during this period. [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12] As a briefest summary: the LSC has been presented sensors, biological imaging, and detectors for free-space communications and scintillators, distinguishing between static and dynamic systems within the discussions. We also discuss future possibilities for the devices, hoping to spur innovative approaches and applications with an eye on commercial future.…”

Effects of Fabrication Methods on the Performance of Luminescent Solar Concentrators Based on Doped Polymer Optical Fibers

“…Electrospun nanofibers incorporating nanoparticles to enhance the dye emissions can also be employed in conjunction with an organic PV [ 14 , 15 ]. All these properties, combined with commonly available materials and ease of processing, make doped POFs an actual attractive option in the area of LSCs [ 15 , 16 , 17 ]. Nowadays one of the main applications of LSCs is focused on the building integration of PV energy (BIPV) in modern cities, where the cost of land for the installation of ground PVs is prohibitively high and the rooftop space is too scarce to accommodate PV modules [ 18 , 19 , 20 ].…”

High-Performance Luminescent Solar Concentrators Based on Poly(Cyclohexylmethacrylate) (PCHMA) Films

“…Among possible systems for building-integrated PV, we can find luminescent solar concentrators (LSCs), optical systems intrinsically capable of trapping and concentrating light [6]. The concept of LSCs was first developed in the 1970s as an eco-friendly alternative to reduce the total cost of solar energy [7].…”