The Experts below are selected from a list of 312 Experts worldwide ranked by ideXlab platform
Sergio Brovelli - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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Luminescent Solar Concentrators for building-integrated photovoltaics
Nature Reviews Materials, 2017Co-Authors: Francesco Meinardi, Francesco Bruni, Sergio BrovelliAbstract:Luminescent Solar Concentrators (LSCs) offer a unique opportunity to ‘invisibly’ integrate semi-transparent photovoltaic architectural elements, such as electrodeless glazing units, into the building envelope. This Review highlights the advancements making LSCs a realistic technology for near zero-energy buildings, along with the remaining challenges and strategies for further device optimization. The transition to fully energetically sustainable architecture through the realization of so-called net zero-energy buildings is currently in progress in areas with low population density. However, this is not yet true in cities, where the cost of land for the installation of ground photovoltaic (PV) is prohibitively high and the rooftop space is too scarce to accommodate the PV modules necessary for sustaining the electrical requirements of tall buildings. Thus, new technologies are being investigated to integrate Solar-harvesting devices into building façades in the form of PV windows or envelope elements. Luminescent Solar Concentrators (LSCs) are the most promising technology for semi-transparent, electrodeless PV glazing systems that can be integrated ‘invisibly’ into the built environment without detrimental effects to the aesthetics of the building or the quality of life of the inhabitants. After 40 years of research, recent breakthroughs in the realization of reabsorption-free emitters with broadband absorption have boosted the performance of LSCs to such a degree that they might be commercialized in the near future. In this Perspective, we explore the successful strategies that have allowed this change of pace, examining and comparing the different types of chromophores and waveguide materials, and discuss the issues that remain to be investigated for further progress.
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doped halide perovskite nanocrystals for reabsorption free luminescent Solar Concentrators
ACS energy letters, 2017Co-Authors: Francesco Meinardi, Francesco Bruni, Michele Mauri, Quinten A Akkerman, Sung Wook Park, Zhiya Dang, Liberato Manna, Sergio BrovelliAbstract:Halide perovskite nanocrystals (NCs) are promising solution-processed emitters for low-cost optoelectronics and photonics. Doping adds a degree of freedom for their design and enables us to fully decouple their absorption and emission functions. This is paramount for luminescent Solar Concentrators (LSCs) that enable fabrication of electrode-less Solar windows for building-integrated photovoltaic applications. Here, we demonstrate the suitability of manganese-doped CsPbCl3 NCs as reabsorption-free emitters for large-area LSCs. Light propagation measurements and Monte Carlo simulations indicate that the dopant emission is unaffected by reabsorption. Nanocomposite LSCs were fabricated via mass copolymerization of acrylate monomers, ensuring thermal and mechanical stability and optimal compatibility of the NCs, with fully preserved emission efficiency. As a result, perovskite LSCs behave closely to ideal devices, in which all portions of the illuminated area contribute equally to the total optical power. The...
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Highly efficient luminescent Solar Concentrators based on earth-abundant indirect-bandgap silicon quantum dots
Nature Photonics, 2017Co-Authors: Francesco Meinardi, Francesco Carulli, Roberto Simonutti, Francesco Bruni, Samantha Ehrenberg, Lorena Dhamo, Michele Mauri, Uwe Kortshagen, Sergio BrovelliAbstract:Building-integrated photovoltaics is gaining consensus as a renewable energy technology for producing electricity at the point of use. Luminescent Solar Concentrators (LSCs) could extend architectural integration to the urban environment by realizing electrode-less photovoltaic windows. Crucial for large-area LSCs is the suppression of reabsorption losses, which requires emitters with negligible overlap between their absorption and emission spectra. Here, we demonstrate the use of indirect-bandgap semiconductor nanostructures such as highly emissive silicon quantum dots. Silicon is non-toxic, low-cost and ultra-earth-abundant, which avoids the limitations to the industrial scaling of quantum dots composed of low-abundance elements. Suppressed reabsorption and scattering losses lead to nearly ideal LSCs with an optical efficiency of η = 2.85%, matching state-of-the-art semi-transparent LSCs. Monte Carlo simulations indicate that optimized silicon quantum dot LSCs have a clear path to η > 5% for 1 m^2 devices. We are finally able to realize flexible LSCs with performances comparable to those of flat Concentrators, which opens the way to a new design freedom for building-integrated photovoltaics elements. Reabsorption losses in luminescent Solar Concentrators can be avoided by the use of indirect-bandgap semiconductor nanostructures. The technology has been used to demonstrate flexible luminescent Solar Concentrators with performance comparable to flat Concentrators.
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Highly efficient large-area colourless luminescent Solar Concentrators using heavy-metal-free colloidal quantum dots
Nature Nanotechnology, 2015Co-Authors: Francesco Meinardi, Kirill A. Velizhanin, Hunter Mcdaniel, Francesco Carulli, Annalisa Colombo, Nikolay S Makarov, Roberto Simonutti, Victor I. Klimov, Sergio BrovelliAbstract:Luminescent Solar Concentrators serving as semitransparent photovoltaic windows could become an important element in net zero energy consumption buildings of the future. Colloidal quantum dots are promising materials for luminescent Solar Concentrators as they can be engineered to provide the large Stokes shift necessary for suppressing reabsorption losses in large-area devices. Existing Stokes-shift-engineered quantum dots allow for only partial coverage of the Solar spectrum, which limits their light-harvesting ability and leads to colouring of the luminescent Solar Concentrators, complicating their use in architecture. Here, we use quantum dots of ternary I–III–VI_2 semiconductors to realize the first large-area quantum dot–luminescent Solar Concentrators free of toxic elements, with reduced reabsorption and extended coverage of the Solar spectrum. By incorporating CuInSe_ x S_2– x quantum dots into photo-polymerized poly(lauryl methacrylate), we obtain freestanding, colourless slabs that introduce no distortion to perceived colours and are thus well suited for the realization of photovoltaic windows. Thanks to the suppressed reabsorption and high emission efficiencies of the quantum dots, we achieve an optical power efficiency of 3.2%. Ultrafast spectroscopy studies suggest that the Stokes-shifted emission involves a conduction-band electron and a hole residing in an intragap state associated with a native defect. Colourless panels that can concentrate Solar light and improve the efficiency of Solar cells can now be fabricated with non-toxic quantum dots.
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Highly efficient large-area colourless luminescent Solar Concentrators using heavy-metal-free colloidal quantum dots
Nature Nanotechnology, 2015Co-Authors: Francesco Meinardi, Kirill A. Velizhanin, Hunter Mcdaniel, Francesco Carulli, Vitalevich Ivan Klimov, Annalisa Colombo, Nikolay S Makarov, Roberto Simonutti, Sergio BrovelliAbstract:Luminescent Solar Concentrators serving as semitransparent photovoltaic windows could become an important element in net zero energy consumption buildings of the future. Colloidal quantum dots are promising materials for luminescent Solar Concentrators as they can be engineered to provide the large Stokes shift necessary for suppressing reabsorption losses in large-area devices. Existing Stokes-shift-engineered quantum dots allow for only partial coverage of the Solar spectrum, which limits their light-harvesting ability and leads to colouring of the luminescent Solar Concentrators, complicating their use in architecture. Here, we use quantum dots of ternary I–III–VI2 semiconductors to realize the first large-area quantum dot–luminescent Solar Concentrators free of toxic elements, with reduced reabsorption and extended coverage of the Solar spectrum. By incorporating CuInSexS2–x quantum dots into photo-polymerized poly(lauryl methacrylate), we obtain freestanding, colourless slabs that introduce no distortion to perceived colours and are thus well suited for the realization of photovoltaic windows. Thanks to the suppressed reabsorption and high emission efficiencies of the quantum dots, we achieve an optical power efficiency of 3.2%. Ultrafast spectroscopy studies suggest that the Stokes-shifted emission involves a conduction-band electron and a hole residing in an intragap state associated with a native defect. B
Francesco Meinardi - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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Luminescent Solar Concentrators for building-integrated photovoltaics
Nature Reviews Materials, 2017Co-Authors: Francesco Meinardi, Francesco Bruni, Sergio BrovelliAbstract:Luminescent Solar Concentrators (LSCs) offer a unique opportunity to ‘invisibly’ integrate semi-transparent photovoltaic architectural elements, such as electrodeless glazing units, into the building envelope. This Review highlights the advancements making LSCs a realistic technology for near zero-energy buildings, along with the remaining challenges and strategies for further device optimization. The transition to fully energetically sustainable architecture through the realization of so-called net zero-energy buildings is currently in progress in areas with low population density. However, this is not yet true in cities, where the cost of land for the installation of ground photovoltaic (PV) is prohibitively high and the rooftop space is too scarce to accommodate the PV modules necessary for sustaining the electrical requirements of tall buildings. Thus, new technologies are being investigated to integrate Solar-harvesting devices into building façades in the form of PV windows or envelope elements. Luminescent Solar Concentrators (LSCs) are the most promising technology for semi-transparent, electrodeless PV glazing systems that can be integrated ‘invisibly’ into the built environment without detrimental effects to the aesthetics of the building or the quality of life of the inhabitants. After 40 years of research, recent breakthroughs in the realization of reabsorption-free emitters with broadband absorption have boosted the performance of LSCs to such a degree that they might be commercialized in the near future. In this Perspective, we explore the successful strategies that have allowed this change of pace, examining and comparing the different types of chromophores and waveguide materials, and discuss the issues that remain to be investigated for further progress.
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doped halide perovskite nanocrystals for reabsorption free luminescent Solar Concentrators
ACS energy letters, 2017Co-Authors: Francesco Meinardi, Francesco Bruni, Michele Mauri, Quinten A Akkerman, Sung Wook Park, Zhiya Dang, Liberato Manna, Sergio BrovelliAbstract:Halide perovskite nanocrystals (NCs) are promising solution-processed emitters for low-cost optoelectronics and photonics. Doping adds a degree of freedom for their design and enables us to fully decouple their absorption and emission functions. This is paramount for luminescent Solar Concentrators (LSCs) that enable fabrication of electrode-less Solar windows for building-integrated photovoltaic applications. Here, we demonstrate the suitability of manganese-doped CsPbCl3 NCs as reabsorption-free emitters for large-area LSCs. Light propagation measurements and Monte Carlo simulations indicate that the dopant emission is unaffected by reabsorption. Nanocomposite LSCs were fabricated via mass copolymerization of acrylate monomers, ensuring thermal and mechanical stability and optimal compatibility of the NCs, with fully preserved emission efficiency. As a result, perovskite LSCs behave closely to ideal devices, in which all portions of the illuminated area contribute equally to the total optical power. The...
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Highly efficient luminescent Solar Concentrators based on earth-abundant indirect-bandgap silicon quantum dots
Nature Photonics, 2017Co-Authors: Francesco Meinardi, Francesco Carulli, Roberto Simonutti, Francesco Bruni, Samantha Ehrenberg, Lorena Dhamo, Michele Mauri, Uwe Kortshagen, Sergio BrovelliAbstract:Building-integrated photovoltaics is gaining consensus as a renewable energy technology for producing electricity at the point of use. Luminescent Solar Concentrators (LSCs) could extend architectural integration to the urban environment by realizing electrode-less photovoltaic windows. Crucial for large-area LSCs is the suppression of reabsorption losses, which requires emitters with negligible overlap between their absorption and emission spectra. Here, we demonstrate the use of indirect-bandgap semiconductor nanostructures such as highly emissive silicon quantum dots. Silicon is non-toxic, low-cost and ultra-earth-abundant, which avoids the limitations to the industrial scaling of quantum dots composed of low-abundance elements. Suppressed reabsorption and scattering losses lead to nearly ideal LSCs with an optical efficiency of η = 2.85%, matching state-of-the-art semi-transparent LSCs. Monte Carlo simulations indicate that optimized silicon quantum dot LSCs have a clear path to η > 5% for 1 m^2 devices. We are finally able to realize flexible LSCs with performances comparable to those of flat Concentrators, which opens the way to a new design freedom for building-integrated photovoltaics elements. Reabsorption losses in luminescent Solar Concentrators can be avoided by the use of indirect-bandgap semiconductor nanostructures. The technology has been used to demonstrate flexible luminescent Solar Concentrators with performance comparable to flat Concentrators.
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Highly efficient large-area colourless luminescent Solar Concentrators using heavy-metal-free colloidal quantum dots
Nature Nanotechnology, 2015Co-Authors: Francesco Meinardi, Kirill A. Velizhanin, Hunter Mcdaniel, Francesco Carulli, Annalisa Colombo, Nikolay S Makarov, Roberto Simonutti, Victor I. Klimov, Sergio BrovelliAbstract:Luminescent Solar Concentrators serving as semitransparent photovoltaic windows could become an important element in net zero energy consumption buildings of the future. Colloidal quantum dots are promising materials for luminescent Solar Concentrators as they can be engineered to provide the large Stokes shift necessary for suppressing reabsorption losses in large-area devices. Existing Stokes-shift-engineered quantum dots allow for only partial coverage of the Solar spectrum, which limits their light-harvesting ability and leads to colouring of the luminescent Solar Concentrators, complicating their use in architecture. Here, we use quantum dots of ternary I–III–VI_2 semiconductors to realize the first large-area quantum dot–luminescent Solar Concentrators free of toxic elements, with reduced reabsorption and extended coverage of the Solar spectrum. By incorporating CuInSe_ x S_2– x quantum dots into photo-polymerized poly(lauryl methacrylate), we obtain freestanding, colourless slabs that introduce no distortion to perceived colours and are thus well suited for the realization of photovoltaic windows. Thanks to the suppressed reabsorption and high emission efficiencies of the quantum dots, we achieve an optical power efficiency of 3.2%. Ultrafast spectroscopy studies suggest that the Stokes-shifted emission involves a conduction-band electron and a hole residing in an intragap state associated with a native defect. Colourless panels that can concentrate Solar light and improve the efficiency of Solar cells can now be fabricated with non-toxic quantum dots.
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Highly efficient large-area colourless luminescent Solar Concentrators using heavy-metal-free colloidal quantum dots
Nature Nanotechnology, 2015Co-Authors: Francesco Meinardi, Kirill A. Velizhanin, Hunter Mcdaniel, Francesco Carulli, Vitalevich Ivan Klimov, Annalisa Colombo, Nikolay S Makarov, Roberto Simonutti, Sergio BrovelliAbstract:Luminescent Solar Concentrators serving as semitransparent photovoltaic windows could become an important element in net zero energy consumption buildings of the future. Colloidal quantum dots are promising materials for luminescent Solar Concentrators as they can be engineered to provide the large Stokes shift necessary for suppressing reabsorption losses in large-area devices. Existing Stokes-shift-engineered quantum dots allow for only partial coverage of the Solar spectrum, which limits their light-harvesting ability and leads to colouring of the luminescent Solar Concentrators, complicating their use in architecture. Here, we use quantum dots of ternary I–III–VI2 semiconductors to realize the first large-area quantum dot–luminescent Solar Concentrators free of toxic elements, with reduced reabsorption and extended coverage of the Solar spectrum. By incorporating CuInSexS2–x quantum dots into photo-polymerized poly(lauryl methacrylate), we obtain freestanding, colourless slabs that introduce no distortion to perceived colours and are thus well suited for the realization of photovoltaic windows. Thanks to the suppressed reabsorption and high emission efficiencies of the quantum dots, we achieve an optical power efficiency of 3.2%. Ultrafast spectroscopy studies suggest that the Stokes-shifted emission involves a conduction-band electron and a hole residing in an intragap state associated with a native defect. B
Roberto Simonutti - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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Highly efficient luminescent Solar Concentrators based on earth-abundant indirect-bandgap silicon quantum dots
Nature Photonics, 2017Co-Authors: Francesco Meinardi, Francesco Carulli, Roberto Simonutti, Francesco Bruni, Samantha Ehrenberg, Lorena Dhamo, Michele Mauri, Uwe Kortshagen, Sergio BrovelliAbstract:Building-integrated photovoltaics is gaining consensus as a renewable energy technology for producing electricity at the point of use. Luminescent Solar Concentrators (LSCs) could extend architectural integration to the urban environment by realizing electrode-less photovoltaic windows. Crucial for large-area LSCs is the suppression of reabsorption losses, which requires emitters with negligible overlap between their absorption and emission spectra. Here, we demonstrate the use of indirect-bandgap semiconductor nanostructures such as highly emissive silicon quantum dots. Silicon is non-toxic, low-cost and ultra-earth-abundant, which avoids the limitations to the industrial scaling of quantum dots composed of low-abundance elements. Suppressed reabsorption and scattering losses lead to nearly ideal LSCs with an optical efficiency of η = 2.85%, matching state-of-the-art semi-transparent LSCs. Monte Carlo simulations indicate that optimized silicon quantum dot LSCs have a clear path to η > 5% for 1 m^2 devices. We are finally able to realize flexible LSCs with performances comparable to those of flat Concentrators, which opens the way to a new design freedom for building-integrated photovoltaics elements. Reabsorption losses in luminescent Solar Concentrators can be avoided by the use of indirect-bandgap semiconductor nanostructures. The technology has been used to demonstrate flexible luminescent Solar Concentrators with performance comparable to flat Concentrators.
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Highly efficient large-area colourless luminescent Solar Concentrators using heavy-metal-free colloidal quantum dots
Nature Nanotechnology, 2015Co-Authors: Francesco Meinardi, Kirill A. Velizhanin, Hunter Mcdaniel, Francesco Carulli, Annalisa Colombo, Nikolay S Makarov, Roberto Simonutti, Victor I. Klimov, Sergio BrovelliAbstract:Luminescent Solar Concentrators serving as semitransparent photovoltaic windows could become an important element in net zero energy consumption buildings of the future. Colloidal quantum dots are promising materials for luminescent Solar Concentrators as they can be engineered to provide the large Stokes shift necessary for suppressing reabsorption losses in large-area devices. Existing Stokes-shift-engineered quantum dots allow for only partial coverage of the Solar spectrum, which limits their light-harvesting ability and leads to colouring of the luminescent Solar Concentrators, complicating their use in architecture. Here, we use quantum dots of ternary I–III–VI_2 semiconductors to realize the first large-area quantum dot–luminescent Solar Concentrators free of toxic elements, with reduced reabsorption and extended coverage of the Solar spectrum. By incorporating CuInSe_ x S_2– x quantum dots into photo-polymerized poly(lauryl methacrylate), we obtain freestanding, colourless slabs that introduce no distortion to perceived colours and are thus well suited for the realization of photovoltaic windows. Thanks to the suppressed reabsorption and high emission efficiencies of the quantum dots, we achieve an optical power efficiency of 3.2%. Ultrafast spectroscopy studies suggest that the Stokes-shifted emission involves a conduction-band electron and a hole residing in an intragap state associated with a native defect. Colourless panels that can concentrate Solar light and improve the efficiency of Solar cells can now be fabricated with non-toxic quantum dots.
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Highly efficient large-area colourless luminescent Solar Concentrators using heavy-metal-free colloidal quantum dots
Nature Nanotechnology, 2015Co-Authors: Francesco Meinardi, Kirill A. Velizhanin, Hunter Mcdaniel, Francesco Carulli, Vitalevich Ivan Klimov, Annalisa Colombo, Nikolay S Makarov, Roberto Simonutti, Sergio BrovelliAbstract:Luminescent Solar Concentrators serving as semitransparent photovoltaic windows could become an important element in net zero energy consumption buildings of the future. Colloidal quantum dots are promising materials for luminescent Solar Concentrators as they can be engineered to provide the large Stokes shift necessary for suppressing reabsorption losses in large-area devices. Existing Stokes-shift-engineered quantum dots allow for only partial coverage of the Solar spectrum, which limits their light-harvesting ability and leads to colouring of the luminescent Solar Concentrators, complicating their use in architecture. Here, we use quantum dots of ternary I–III–VI2 semiconductors to realize the first large-area quantum dot–luminescent Solar Concentrators free of toxic elements, with reduced reabsorption and extended coverage of the Solar spectrum. By incorporating CuInSexS2–x quantum dots into photo-polymerized poly(lauryl methacrylate), we obtain freestanding, colourless slabs that introduce no distortion to perceived colours and are thus well suited for the realization of photovoltaic windows. Thanks to the suppressed reabsorption and high emission efficiencies of the quantum dots, we achieve an optical power efficiency of 3.2%. Ultrafast spectroscopy studies suggest that the Stokes-shifted emission involves a conduction-band electron and a hole residing in an intragap state associated with a native defect. B
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large area luminescent Solar Concentrators based on stokes shift engineered nanocrystals in a mass polymerized pmma matrix
Nature Photonics, 2014Co-Authors: Francesco Meinardi, Kirill A. Velizhanin, Monica Lorenzon, Vitalevich Ivan Klimov, Ranjani Viswanatha, Luca Beverina, Annalisa Colombo, Roberto Simonutti, Sergio BrovelliAbstract:Stokes-shift-engineered CdSe/CdS quantum dots are used to fabricate luminescent Solar Concentrators that are tens of centimetres long and do not exhibit reabsorption losses. With efficiencies of over 10% and an effective concentration factor of 4.4, they demonstrate the potential of using Stokes-shift-engineered quantum dots in large-area luminescent Solar Concentrators.
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Large-area luminescent Solar Concentrators based on Stokes-shift-engineered nanocrystals in a mass-polymerized PMMA matrix
Nature Photonics, 2014Co-Authors: Francesco Meinardi, Kirill A. Velizhanin, Monica Lorenzon, Vitalevich Ivan Klimov, Ranjani Viswanatha, Luca Beverina, Annalisa Colombo, Roberto Simonutti, Sergio BrovelliAbstract:Luminescent Solar Concentrators are cost-effective complements to semiconductor photovoltaics that can boost the output of Solar cells and allow for the integration of photovoltaic-active architectural elements into buildings (for example, photovoltaic windows). Colloidal quantum dots are attractive for use in luminescent Solar Concentrators, but their small Stokes shift results in reabsorption losses that hinder the realization of large-area devices. Here, we use /`Stokes-shift-engineered/' CdSe/CdS quantum dots with giant shells (giant quantum dots) to realize luminescent Solar Concentrators without reabsorption losses for device dimensions up to tens of centimetres. Monte-Carlo simulations show a 100-fold increase in efficiency using giant quantum dots compared with core-only nanocrystals. We demonstrate the feasibility of this approach by using high-optical-quality quantum dot-polymethylmethacrylate nanocomposites fabricated using a modified industrial method that preserves the light-emitting properties of giant quantum dots upon incorporation into the polymer. Study of these luminescent Solar Concentrators yields optical efficiencies >10% and an effective concentration factor of 4.4. These results demonstrate the significant promise of Stokes-shift-engineered quantum dots for large-area luminescent Solar Concentrators.
Luca Beverina - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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large area luminescent Solar Concentrators based on stokes shift engineered nanocrystals in a mass polymerized pmma matrix
Nature Photonics, 2014Co-Authors: Francesco Meinardi, Kirill A. Velizhanin, Monica Lorenzon, Vitalevich Ivan Klimov, Ranjani Viswanatha, Luca Beverina, Annalisa Colombo, Roberto Simonutti, Sergio BrovelliAbstract:Stokes-shift-engineered CdSe/CdS quantum dots are used to fabricate luminescent Solar Concentrators that are tens of centimetres long and do not exhibit reabsorption losses. With efficiencies of over 10% and an effective concentration factor of 4.4, they demonstrate the potential of using Stokes-shift-engineered quantum dots in large-area luminescent Solar Concentrators.
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Large-area luminescent Solar Concentrators based on Stokes-shift-engineered nanocrystals in a mass-polymerized PMMA matrix
Nature Photonics, 2014Co-Authors: Francesco Meinardi, Kirill A. Velizhanin, Monica Lorenzon, Vitalevich Ivan Klimov, Ranjani Viswanatha, Luca Beverina, Annalisa Colombo, Roberto Simonutti, Sergio BrovelliAbstract:Luminescent Solar Concentrators are cost-effective complements to semiconductor photovoltaics that can boost the output of Solar cells and allow for the integration of photovoltaic-active architectural elements into buildings (for example, photovoltaic windows). Colloidal quantum dots are attractive for use in luminescent Solar Concentrators, but their small Stokes shift results in reabsorption losses that hinder the realization of large-area devices. Here, we use /`Stokes-shift-engineered/' CdSe/CdS quantum dots with giant shells (giant quantum dots) to realize luminescent Solar Concentrators without reabsorption losses for device dimensions up to tens of centimetres. Monte-Carlo simulations show a 100-fold increase in efficiency using giant quantum dots compared with core-only nanocrystals. We demonstrate the feasibility of this approach by using high-optical-quality quantum dot-polymethylmethacrylate nanocomposites fabricated using a modified industrial method that preserves the light-emitting properties of giant quantum dots upon incorporation into the polymer. Study of these luminescent Solar Concentrators yields optical efficiencies >10% and an effective concentration factor of 4.4. These results demonstrate the significant promise of Stokes-shift-engineered quantum dots for large-area luminescent Solar Concentrators.
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high stokes shift perylene dyes for luminescent Solar Concentrators
Chemical Communications, 2013Co-Authors: Alessandro Sanguineti, Francesco Meinardi, Mauro Sassi, Riccardo Turrisi, Riccardo Ruffo, G Vaccaro, Luca BeverinaAbstract:Highly efficient plastic based single layer Luminescent Solar Concentrators (LSCs) require the design of luminophores having complete spectral separation between absorption and emission spectra (large Stokes shift). We describe the design, synthesis and characterization of a new perylene dye possessing Stokes shift as high as 300 meV, fluorescent quantum yield in the LSC slab of 70% and high chemical and photochemical stability.
Annalisa Colombo - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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Highly efficient large-area colourless luminescent Solar Concentrators using heavy-metal-free colloidal quantum dots
Nature Nanotechnology, 2015Co-Authors: Francesco Meinardi, Kirill A. Velizhanin, Hunter Mcdaniel, Francesco Carulli, Annalisa Colombo, Nikolay S Makarov, Roberto Simonutti, Victor I. Klimov, Sergio BrovelliAbstract:Luminescent Solar Concentrators serving as semitransparent photovoltaic windows could become an important element in net zero energy consumption buildings of the future. Colloidal quantum dots are promising materials for luminescent Solar Concentrators as they can be engineered to provide the large Stokes shift necessary for suppressing reabsorption losses in large-area devices. Existing Stokes-shift-engineered quantum dots allow for only partial coverage of the Solar spectrum, which limits their light-harvesting ability and leads to colouring of the luminescent Solar Concentrators, complicating their use in architecture. Here, we use quantum dots of ternary I–III–VI_2 semiconductors to realize the first large-area quantum dot–luminescent Solar Concentrators free of toxic elements, with reduced reabsorption and extended coverage of the Solar spectrum. By incorporating CuInSe_ x S_2– x quantum dots into photo-polymerized poly(lauryl methacrylate), we obtain freestanding, colourless slabs that introduce no distortion to perceived colours and are thus well suited for the realization of photovoltaic windows. Thanks to the suppressed reabsorption and high emission efficiencies of the quantum dots, we achieve an optical power efficiency of 3.2%. Ultrafast spectroscopy studies suggest that the Stokes-shifted emission involves a conduction-band electron and a hole residing in an intragap state associated with a native defect. Colourless panels that can concentrate Solar light and improve the efficiency of Solar cells can now be fabricated with non-toxic quantum dots.
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Highly efficient large-area colourless luminescent Solar Concentrators using heavy-metal-free colloidal quantum dots
Nature Nanotechnology, 2015Co-Authors: Francesco Meinardi, Kirill A. Velizhanin, Hunter Mcdaniel, Francesco Carulli, Vitalevich Ivan Klimov, Annalisa Colombo, Nikolay S Makarov, Roberto Simonutti, Sergio BrovelliAbstract:Luminescent Solar Concentrators serving as semitransparent photovoltaic windows could become an important element in net zero energy consumption buildings of the future. Colloidal quantum dots are promising materials for luminescent Solar Concentrators as they can be engineered to provide the large Stokes shift necessary for suppressing reabsorption losses in large-area devices. Existing Stokes-shift-engineered quantum dots allow for only partial coverage of the Solar spectrum, which limits their light-harvesting ability and leads to colouring of the luminescent Solar Concentrators, complicating their use in architecture. Here, we use quantum dots of ternary I–III–VI2 semiconductors to realize the first large-area quantum dot–luminescent Solar Concentrators free of toxic elements, with reduced reabsorption and extended coverage of the Solar spectrum. By incorporating CuInSexS2–x quantum dots into photo-polymerized poly(lauryl methacrylate), we obtain freestanding, colourless slabs that introduce no distortion to perceived colours and are thus well suited for the realization of photovoltaic windows. Thanks to the suppressed reabsorption and high emission efficiencies of the quantum dots, we achieve an optical power efficiency of 3.2%. Ultrafast spectroscopy studies suggest that the Stokes-shifted emission involves a conduction-band electron and a hole residing in an intragap state associated with a native defect. B
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large area luminescent Solar Concentrators based on stokes shift engineered nanocrystals in a mass polymerized pmma matrix
Nature Photonics, 2014Co-Authors: Francesco Meinardi, Kirill A. Velizhanin, Monica Lorenzon, Vitalevich Ivan Klimov, Ranjani Viswanatha, Luca Beverina, Annalisa Colombo, Roberto Simonutti, Sergio BrovelliAbstract:Stokes-shift-engineered CdSe/CdS quantum dots are used to fabricate luminescent Solar Concentrators that are tens of centimetres long and do not exhibit reabsorption losses. With efficiencies of over 10% and an effective concentration factor of 4.4, they demonstrate the potential of using Stokes-shift-engineered quantum dots in large-area luminescent Solar Concentrators.
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Large-area luminescent Solar Concentrators based on Stokes-shift-engineered nanocrystals in a mass-polymerized PMMA matrix
Nature Photonics, 2014Co-Authors: Francesco Meinardi, Kirill A. Velizhanin, Monica Lorenzon, Vitalevich Ivan Klimov, Ranjani Viswanatha, Luca Beverina, Annalisa Colombo, Roberto Simonutti, Sergio BrovelliAbstract:Luminescent Solar Concentrators are cost-effective complements to semiconductor photovoltaics that can boost the output of Solar cells and allow for the integration of photovoltaic-active architectural elements into buildings (for example, photovoltaic windows). Colloidal quantum dots are attractive for use in luminescent Solar Concentrators, but their small Stokes shift results in reabsorption losses that hinder the realization of large-area devices. Here, we use /`Stokes-shift-engineered/' CdSe/CdS quantum dots with giant shells (giant quantum dots) to realize luminescent Solar Concentrators without reabsorption losses for device dimensions up to tens of centimetres. Monte-Carlo simulations show a 100-fold increase in efficiency using giant quantum dots compared with core-only nanocrystals. We demonstrate the feasibility of this approach by using high-optical-quality quantum dot-polymethylmethacrylate nanocomposites fabricated using a modified industrial method that preserves the light-emitting properties of giant quantum dots upon incorporation into the polymer. Study of these luminescent Solar Concentrators yields optical efficiencies >10% and an effective concentration factor of 4.4. These results demonstrate the significant promise of Stokes-shift-engineered quantum dots for large-area luminescent Solar Concentrators.