Stimuli-Responsive Luminescent Solar Concentrators Based on Photoreversible Polymeric Systems

Abstract

Luminescent solar concentrators (LSCs) consist of dye-doped, highly transparent, plastic plates aimed at improving the building integration and reducing the cost of photovoltaic (PV) technology. In the thin-film configuration, the surface of these devices is particularly exposed to mechanical damage and to a consequent loss of performance in terms of power conversion. To address this issue, the first demonstration of a healable thin-film LSC based on a photoreversible polymer network as the host matrix is presented in this work. The photoresponsive matrix is obtained by simple UV curing of a coumarin functional polyurethane through reversible [2+2] cycloaddition. The final cross-linked coating is optically clear and exhibits excellent scratch remendability after suitable UVC/UVA exposure. The LSC devices obtained by doping the responsive matrix with perylene-or coumarin-based organic dyes possess a remarkable PV performance, comparable with control devices based on poly(methyl methacrylate). The loss of performance induced by surface mechanical scratches can be fully recovered by UV irradiation, as a result of the photoreversibility of the coumarin functional polymer network. The healing strategy presented here, purely light-triggered, expands the tools for the design of durable and responsive thin-film LSCs.

Poly(vinylidenefluoride) polymers and copolymers as versatile hosts for luminescent solar concentrators: compositional tuning for enhanced performance

“…Interestingly, an initial increase in η LSC-PV was detected in fluoropolymer-based systems, as opposed to PMMA-based devices. A similar trend was already observed in other crosslinked 56–58 and/or fluorinated 11,12,24 polymeric matrices previously proposed in the literature. Although still under investigation, this surprising behaviour could be correlated with the rapid formation of a non-fluorescent radical anion form of the perylene species upon irradiation in the presence of UV light, which persists in anaerobic conditions.…”

Recent Advances in Stimuli‐Responsive Commodity Polymers

“…Upon mechanical damage, scission of the formed rings due to lower bond strength is responsible for self‐healing due to the presence of mobile coumarin moieties on the fractured surface. [ 123 ] In addition to side chains, coumarin moieties can be incorporated into main chains from chain extenders [ 124,125 ] and end groups of branched PURs [ 126 ] to generate photo‐responsive self‐healable PURs.…”

First demonstration of the use of open-shell derivatives as organic luminophores for transparent luminescent solar concentrators

“…3,10 Schemes based on energy transfer between emitting species are also possible. [11][12][13][14][15][16] Transparent LSCs are designed to be installed in place of normal windows. They should let most of the incident light go through with only minor attenuation and, even more importantly, with as little as possible colour distortion.…”