Luminescent solar concentrators fabricated by dispersing rare earth particles in PMMA waveguide

Abstract

Luminescent solar concentrators (LSCs) were fabricated by dispersing CaAlSiN3: Eu2+ particles in a PMMA waveguide. A series of LSCs (dimension 5.0 cm × 5.0 cm × 0.5 cm) with different CaAlSiN3: Eu2+ particle concentration were obtained and their performance was evaluated. The maximum optical concentration ratio is 1.23 with a power conversion efficiency of 1.44% for the LSC containing 0.5 wt% CaAlSiN3: Eu2+ particles concentration. This strategy of dispersing rare earth particles in PMMA waveguide represents an alternative approach to producing highly durable LSCs. © 2014 Cheng Liu et al.