1. Exploration of parameters influencing the self-absorption losses in luminescent solar concentrators with an experimentally validated combined ray-tracing/Monte-Carlo model
- Author
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Krumer, Z., van Sark, W.G.J.H.M., de Mello Donegá, C., Schropp, R.E.I., Plesniak, A.P., and Plasma & Materials Processing
- Subjects
Total internal reflection ,Materials science ,business.industry ,Photovoltaic system ,Monte- Carlo simulations ,self-absorption ,re-absorption ,Solar energy ,law.invention ,Optics ,ray-tracing simulations ,Quantum dot ,law ,Solar cell ,Optoelectronics ,Quantum efficiency ,Ray tracing (graphics) ,SDG 7 - Affordable and Clean Energy ,business ,Absorption (electromagnetic radiation) ,luminescent solar concentrators ,SDG 7 – Betaalbare en schone energie - Abstract
Luminescent solar concentrators (LSCs) are low cost photovoltaic devices, which reduce the amount of necessary semiconductor material per unit area of a photovoltaic solar energy converter by means of concentration. The device is comprised of a thin plastic plate in which luminescent species (fluorophores) have been incorporated. The fluorophores absorb the solar light and radiatively re-emit a part of the energy. Total internal reflection traps most of the emitted light inside the plate and wave-guides it to a narrow side facet with a solar cell attached, where conversion into electricity occurs. The eficiency of such devices is as yet rather low, due to several loss mechanisms, of which self-absorption is of high importance. Combined ray-tracing and Monte-Carlo simulations is a widely used tool for eficiency estimations of LSC-devices prior to manufacturing. We have applied this method to a model experiment, in which we analysed the impact of self-absorption onto LSC- eficiency of fluorophores with different absorption/emission-spectral overlap (Stokes-shift): several organic dyes and semiconductor quantum dots (single compound and core/shell of type-II). These results are compared with the ones obtained experimentally demonstrating a good agreement. The validated model is used to investigate systematically the influence of spectral separation and luminescence quantum eficiency on the intensity loss in consequence of increased self-absorption. The results are used to adopt a quantity called the self-absorption cross-section and establish it as reliable criterion for self-absorption properties of materials that can be obtained from fundamental data and has a more universal scope of application, than the currently used Stokes-shift.
- Published
- 2013
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