Sustainable luminescent solar concentrators based on organic-inorganic hybrids modified with chlorophyll

authors	Frias, AR; Pecoraro, E; Correia, SFH; Minas, LMG; Bastos, AR; Garcia-Revilla, S; Balda, R; Ribeiro, SJL; Andre, PS; Carlos, LD; Ferreira, RAS
nationality	International
journal	JOURNAL OF MATERIALS CHEMISTRY A
keywords	POWER CONVERSION EFFICIENCY; WAVE-GUIDING PHOTOVOLTAICS; QUANTUM DOTS; ENERGY-TRANSFER; CELL EFFICIENCY; LIGHT-EMISSION; FLUORESCENCE; SYSTEMS; SPECTRA; PHOTOSYNTHESIS
abstract	Luminescent solar concentrators (LSCs) are luminescent waveguide layers that convert sunlight into specific wavelengths which are then guided by total internal reflection to a PV device located at the edges of the LSC. Their ability to concentrate sunlight onto small areas makes LSCs a useful complement to silicon-based PVs in a series of applications, such as urban integration and flexible fabrics towards mobile solar-energy. Challenges for the luminescent layer include the use of low-cost and sustainable nature-based organic molecules. We report novel chlorophyll-based LSCs with emission properties in the red/NIR spectral region. Here, chlorophyll molecules extracted from Spirulina maxima, an abundant cyanobacterium and an attractive natural source, are immobilized in organic-inorganic di-and tri-ureasil matrices enabling the production of sustainable LSCs. At low chlorophyll concentrations (<3 x 10(17) molecules per cm(3)), the photophysical properties of the chlorophyll molecules after incorporation into the hybrids closely resemble those in ethanolic solution (with an absolute emission quantum yield of similar to 0.16 and a fluorescence lifetime of similar to 8 ns). The LSCs were coupled to a Si-based commercial PV device revealing optical conversion efficiency and power conversion efficiency values of similar to 3.70% and 0.10%, respectively, illustrating the potential of this approach for the development of nature-based LSCs meeting the requirements of reliable, sustainable and competitive energy systems.
publisher	ROYAL SOC CHEMISTRY
issn	2050-7488
year published	2018
volume	6
issue	18
beginning page	8712
ending page	8723
digital object identifier (doi)	10.1039/c8ta01712c
web of science category	Chemistry, Physical; Energy & Fuels; Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
subject category	Chemistry; Energy & Fuels; Materials Science
unique article identifier	WOS:000434624800063