Improved Dispersion of CuInS2/ZnS Quantum Dots in Poly(methylmethacrylate) for High Performance Luminescent Solar Concentrators
Research Mentor(s)
Patrick, David L.
Description
Luminescent solar concentrators (LSCs) use down-converting luminophores embedded in a waveguide to absorb sunlight and deliver high irradiance, narrowband output light for driving photovoltaic (PV) and other solar energy conversion devices. Achieving a technologically useful level of optical gain requires bright, broadly absorbing, large-Stokes-shift luminophores incorporated into low-loss waveguides, a combination that has long posed a challenge to the development of practical LSCs. With the recent introduction of a new generation of broadband, high-brightness, giant effective Stokes Shift phosphors based on materials such as CuInS2 and Mn:ZnSe nanocrystals (NCs), LSCs have come closer to commercial viability. However a key remaining challenge concerns incorporation of NCs into technologically-relevant waveguide materials, especially poly(methylmethacrylate), where aggregation occurs at even very low loadings, leading to unacceptable light-scattering losses. This poster describes a strategy for achieving uniform dispersion at even high NC loading, by substituting native NC ligands for diblock poly(styrene)-poly(methylmethacrylate) oligomeric ligands. Using this strategy we describe CuInS2/ZnS-based LSCs demonstrating outstanding performance as large-area, semitransparent concentrators suitable for use in energy-harvesting window layers and related applications.
Document Type
Event
Start Date
15-5-2019 9:00 AM
End Date
15-5-2019 5:00 PM
Location
Carver Gym (Bellingham, Wash.)
Department
Chemistry
Genre/Form
student projects, posters
Subjects – Topical (LCSH)
Solar concentrators--Performance; Solar concentrators--Efficiency; Polymethylmethacrylate; Photovoltaic power systems
Type
Image
Rights
Copying of this document in whole or in part is allowable only for scholarly purposes. It is understood, however, that any copying or publication of this document for commercial purposes, or for financial gain, shall not be allowed without the author’s written permission.
Language
English
Format
application/pdf
Improved Dispersion of CuInS2/ZnS Quantum Dots in Poly(methylmethacrylate) for High Performance Luminescent Solar Concentrators
Carver Gym (Bellingham, Wash.)
Luminescent solar concentrators (LSCs) use down-converting luminophores embedded in a waveguide to absorb sunlight and deliver high irradiance, narrowband output light for driving photovoltaic (PV) and other solar energy conversion devices. Achieving a technologically useful level of optical gain requires bright, broadly absorbing, large-Stokes-shift luminophores incorporated into low-loss waveguides, a combination that has long posed a challenge to the development of practical LSCs. With the recent introduction of a new generation of broadband, high-brightness, giant effective Stokes Shift phosphors based on materials such as CuInS2 and Mn:ZnSe nanocrystals (NCs), LSCs have come closer to commercial viability. However a key remaining challenge concerns incorporation of NCs into technologically-relevant waveguide materials, especially poly(methylmethacrylate), where aggregation occurs at even very low loadings, leading to unacceptable light-scattering losses. This poster describes a strategy for achieving uniform dispersion at even high NC loading, by substituting native NC ligands for diblock poly(styrene)-poly(methylmethacrylate) oligomeric ligands. Using this strategy we describe CuInS2/ZnS-based LSCs demonstrating outstanding performance as large-area, semitransparent concentrators suitable for use in energy-harvesting window layers and related applications.