A structurally modified perylene dye for efficient luminescent solar concentrators. (15th October 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Li, Yilin; Olsen, Joseph; Nunez-Ortega, Kenny; Dong, Wen-Ji
• Is Part Of: Solar energy. Volume 136(2016)
• Page Start: 668
• Page End: 674
• Publication Date: 2016-10-15
• Subjects: Luminescent solar concentrator -- Intramolecular charge transfer -- Power conversion efficiency -- Cost-effectiveness analysis; Solar energy -- Periodicals; Solar engines -- Periodicals; 621.47
• DOI: 10.1016/j.solener.2016.07.051
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0038-092X

Abstract

Highlights: A novel perylene dye with optimal photophysical properties are reported for LSCs. The synthesized dye has a low self-absorption cross section of 4.4%. LSCs doped with the dye exhibit η LSC of 2.81% and C of 1.19 with P of 23.7%. Cost-effectiveness analysis implies that price per watt is as low as $0.33/W. Abstract: A structurally modified perylene dye with broad absorption (300–550 nm), long-wavelength emission (550–650 nm), large Stokes shift (Δ λ = 90 nm) and high photoluminescence quantum yield ( Φ f = 0.95) has been synthesized for luminescent solar concentrators (LSCs). Its unique photophysical properties is attributed to the intramolecular charge transfer (ICT) characteristic within the molecule, which was investigated in solution and solid of the dye by spectroscopic measurements as well as theoretical calculations. The performance of LSCs with different device sizes and solar cell configurations was studied experimentally under outdoor real-time sunny condition. Specifically, a LSC with a geometric gain ( G ) of 5 exhibits high power conversion efficiency ( η LSC ) of 2.81% ± 0.06% and over unity concentration ratio ( C ) of 1.19 ± 0.03 with high optical efficiency ( P ) of 23.7% ± 0.5%. Cost-effectiveness analysis was performed on the LSCs implies that C could be as high as 13.85 ( G = 200) and price per watt could be as low as $0.33/W ( G = 103).