Luminescent Solar Concentration with Semiconductor Nanorods and Transfer-Printed Micro-Silicon Solar Cells

Bronstein, Noah D.; Li, Lanfang; Xu, Lu; Yao, Yuan; Ferry, Vivian E.; Alivisatos, A. Paul; Nuzzo, Ralph G.

doi:10.1021/nn404418h

Cited by 155 publications

(156 citation statements)

References 42 publications

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“…[70][71][72] By controlling the reaction condition, the variation of their particle sizes, structures and compositions results in the tunability of both absorption and emission spectra. However, the limited oscillator strength of these materials near their bandgap typically prevents their use as NIR selective harvester, making them more suitable for selective UV harvesting or semitransparent (colored or opaque) applications.…”

Section: Wwwadvopticalmatdementioning

confidence: 99%

Limits of Visibly Transparent Luminescent Solar Concentrators

Yang

Lunt

2017

Advanced Optical Materials

109

100

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surfaces into energy harvesting resources. This new approach to visibly transparent LSCs was developed by exploiting the nature of excitonic semiconductors to optimize the use of this light-exposed surface area without compromising its existing functionality, thereby avoiding the aesthetic tradeoffs that can hinder adoption. Recent work has demonstrated devices that selectively harvest different parts of the solar spectrum including i) ultraviolet (UV) absorption, with massive downconverted luminescence deeper into the NIR (>400 nm) [4] and ii) near-infrared (NIR) absorption, with even deeper luminescence in the NIR. [3] This work has been subsequently followed by a number of other groups. [8][9][10][11][12] In contrast to transparent photovoltaics, which have also been developed to exploit this untapped area, [13][14][15] this new concentrator approach offers an alternative pathway whereby energy is transported optically, offering a simple route to large-area manufacturing, high defect tolerance, angle independent performance, and low-level energy cost. In this progress report we discuss the theoretical limits of transparent LSCs, idealized configurations, scalability, and properties of enabling materials. Operating Principles of LSCsLuminescent solar concentrators operate based on the following mechanisms (see Figure 1a): a portion of solar spectrum is absorbed in a luminescent dye (or "luminophore") [16] embedded in a transparent waveguide. That absorbed solar energy is then re-emitted at another wavelength isotropically in all directions within the waveguide, provided the oscillators are not preferentially oriented. Due to the index of refraction difference between the waveguide and the ambient environment the re-emitted photons are predominately trapped by total internal reflection, causing them to be directed towards the waveguide edges where they can be converted to electrical power in an edge mounted photovoltaic cell. The overall system power conversion efficiency, η LSC , is then given by:where η Opt is the optical efficiency (number of photons reaching the waveguide edge)/(number of photons incident on the waveguide), R is the front face reflection, η Abs is the solar spectrum Visibly transparent solar harvesting surfaces are an exciting new approach to harvesting solar energy around buildings and mobile electronics to improve their efficiency and autonomy without impacting their appearance. The recent demonstration of ultraviolet (UV) and near-infrared (NIR) selective light harvesters have enabled transparent luminescent solar concentrators (LSCs) that boast unparalleled scalability, flexibility, aesthetic quality, and affordability. Consequently, the question of the efficiency limits has emerged in these new systems. In this perspective, the theoretical efficiency limits of these concentrator systems are reviewed and practical considerations are outlined to approach these limits. For UV and UV/NIR selective harvesting single-junction transparent LSCs are constrained thermodynamically to 21%, which i...

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Section: Wwwadvopticalmatdementioning

confidence: 99%

Limits of Visibly Transparent Luminescent Solar Concentrators

Yang

Lunt

2017

Advanced Optical Materials

109

100

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“…For both types of CPV + modules, the low per-area cost of energy from Si cells makes them attractive for use on the module backplane as diffuse light collectors. Emerging alternatives based on perovskites, organics, epitaxial lift-off III-Vs, each with the additional possibility of use in advanced luminescent concentration schemes (31,(40)(41)(42)(43)(44)(45), may also be considered. The bandgaps, in particular, are important.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In this CPV + scheme ("+" denotes the addition of diffuse collector), the Si and MJ cells operate independently on indirect and direct solar radiation, respectively. On-sun experimental studies of CPV + modules at latitudes of 35.9886°N (Durham, NC), 40.1125°N (Bondville, IL), and 38.9072°N (Washington, DC) show improvements in absolute module efficiencies of between 1.02% and 8.45% over values obtained using otherwise similar CPV modules, depending on weather conditions. These concepts have the potential to expand the geographic reach and improve the cost-effectiveness of the highest efficiency forms of PV power generation.…”

mentioning

confidence: 96%

Concentrator photovoltaic module architectures with capabilities for capture and conversion of full global solar radiation

Lee

Yao

et al. 2016

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

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Emerging classes of concentrator photovoltaic (CPV) modules reach efficiencies that are far greater than those of even the highest performance flat-plate PV technologies, with architectures that have the potential to provide the lowest cost of energy in locations with high direct normal irradiance (DNI). A disadvantage is their inability to effectively use diffuse sunlight, thereby constraining widespread geographic deployment and limiting performance even under the most favorable DNI conditions. This study introduces a module design that integrates capabilities in flat-plate PV directly with the most sophisticated CPV technologies, for capture of both direct and diffuse sunlight, thereby achieving efficiency in PV conversion of the global solar radiation. Specific examples of this scheme exploit commodity silicon (Si) cells integrated with two different CPV module designs, where they capture light that is not efficiently directed by the concentrator optics onto large-scale arrays of miniature multijunction (MJ) solar cells that use advanced III-V semiconductor technologies. In this CPV + scheme ("+" denotes the addition of diffuse collector), the Si and MJ cells operate independently on indirect and direct solar radiation, respectively. On-sun experimental studies of CPV + modules at latitudes of 35.9886°N (Durham, NC), 40.1125°N (Bondville, IL), and 38.9072°N (Washington, DC) show improvements in absolute module efficiencies of between 1.02% and 8.45% over values obtained using otherwise similar CPV modules, depending on weather conditions. These concepts have the potential to expand the geographic reach and improve the cost-effectiveness of the highest efficiency forms of PV power generation.photovoltaics | multijunction solar cells | concentration optics | diffuse light capture T he levelized cost of electricity (LCOE) is a primary metric that defines the economic competitiveness of photovoltaic (PV) approaches to electrical power generation (1). As the performance of the highest efficiency single-junction flat-plate PV modules begins to reach theoretical limits, research toward cost reductions in such technologies shifts from performance to topics related to materials utilization and manufacturing (2-5). By contrast, the efficiencies of multijunction (MJ) solar cells based on III-V compound semiconductors continue to improve steadily, at a rate of ∼1% per year over the last 15 y, due largely to progress in epitaxial growth processes, mechanical stacking techniques, and microassembly methods for adding junctions that further maximize light absorption and minimize carrier thermalization losses (6)(7)(8)(9)(10)(11)(12)(13)(14)(15)(16)(17)(18)(19)(20). Record MJ cell efficiencies now approach ∼46.0%, with realistic pathways to the 50% milestone (5). For economic deployment, however, the sophistication and associated costs of these cells demand the use of lenses, curved mirrors, or other forms of optics in conjunction with a mechanical tracker to geometrically concentrate incident direct sunlight in a manner tha...

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“…8 Figure 2c) is placed directly on top of the LSC device with a natural air gap in-between to trap the escaped luminescence, while photons already in the TIR modes remain unaffected by the photonic structure (a cross-sectional illustration is presented in Figure 3b). This particular photonic mirror is designed to allow high transmission of incident illumination within the DCM absorption range, while providing high reflectance for emitted luminescence at larger incidence angles.…”

Section: ■ Performance Of An Lsc With a Dbr On Topmentioning

confidence: 99%

Enhanced Photon Collection in Luminescent Solar Concentrators with Distributed Bragg Reflectors

Yao

Bronstein

et al. 2016

ACS Photonics

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Escape cone loss is one of the primary limiting factors for efficient photon collection in large-area luminescent solar concentrators (LSCs). The Stokes shift of the luminophore, however, opens up an opportunity to recycle the escaped luminescence at the LSC front surface by utilizing a photonic band-stop filter that reflects photons in the luminophore’s emission range while transmitting those in its absorption range. In this study, we examine the functional attributes of such photonic filter designs, ones realized here in the form of a distributed Bragg reflector (DBR) fabricated by spin-coating alternating layers of SiO2 and SnO2 nanoparticle suspensions onto a supportive glass substrate. The central wavelength and the width of the photonic stopband were programmatically tuned by changing the layer thickness and the refractive index contrast between the two dielectric materials. We explore the design sensitivities for a DBR with an optimized stopband frequency that can effectively act as a top angle-restricting optical element for a microcell-based LSC device, affording further capacities to boost the current output of a coupled photovoltaic cell. Detailed studies of the optical interactions between the photonic filter and the LSC using both experimental and computational approaches establish the requirements for optimum photon collection efficiencies.

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Luminescent Solar Concentration with Semiconductor Nanorods and Transfer-Printed Micro-Silicon Solar Cells

Cited by 155 publications

References 42 publications

Limits of Visibly Transparent Luminescent Solar Concentrators

Limits of Visibly Transparent Luminescent Solar Concentrators

Concentrator photovoltaic module architectures with capabilities for capture and conversion of full global solar radiation

Enhanced Photon Collection in Luminescent Solar Concentrators with Distributed Bragg Reflectors

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