Tackling self-absorption in luminescent solar concentrators with type-II colloidal quantum dots

Zachar Krumer*, Suzanne J. Pera, Relinde Moes, Yiming Zhao, Alexander F. P. de Brouwer, Esther Groeneveld, Wilfried G. J. H. M. van Sark, Ruud E. I. Schropp, Celso de Mello Donega

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

Abstract

Luminescent solar concentrators are low cost photovoltaic devices, which reduce the amount of necessary semiconductor material per unit area of a solar collector by means of concentration. The device is comprised a thin plastic plate in which luminescent species (fluorophores) have been incorporated. The fluorophores absorb the solar light and radiatively re-emit part of the energy. Total internal reflection traps most of the emitted light inside the plate and wave-guides it to a narrow side facet with a solar cell attached, where conversion into electricity occurs. The efficiency of such devices is as yet rather low, due to several loss mechanisms, of which self-absorption is of high importance. This work demonstrates that type-II semiconductor hetero-nanocrystals may offer a solution to the self-absorption problem in luminescent solar concentrators. (C) 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)57-65
Number of pages9
JournalSolar Energy Materials and Solar Cells
Volume111
Issue number2013
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Apr 2013

Bibliographical note

CIER-E-2013-11

Keywords

  • Luminescent solar concentrators
  • Self-absorption
  • Semiconductor hetero-nanocrystals
  • Quantum dots
  • Solar cells
  • FLUORESCENT COLLECTORS
  • ENERGY CONVERSION
  • CDSE NANOCRYSTALS
  • EFFICIENCY
  • EMISSION
  • HETERONANOCRYSTALS
  • HETEROSTRUCTURES
  • PHOTOVOLTAICS
  • OPTIMIZATION
  • PERFORMANCE

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