Enhanced Photon Collection in Luminescent Solar Concentrators with Distributed Bragg Reflectors

• DOI: 10.1021/acsphotonics.5b00630
• Publication Date: 2016-01-07T17:11:13Z
• Authors: Lu Xu; Yuan Yao; Noah D. Bronstein; Lanfang Li; A. Paul Alivisatos; Ralph G. Nuzzo
• Keywords: Stopband; Luminophore; Reflector (photography)

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