Luminescent Solar Panel

The luminescent ingredients can be dialed in to absorb and re emit at selected wavelengths.

Luminescent solar panel.

Retrofitted onto current solar panel systems luminescent solar concentrators could increase efficiency by 50 percent source. Luminescent solar concentrators operate on the principle of collecting radiation over a large area converting it by luminescence specifically by fluorescence and directing the generated radiation into a relatively small output target. A luminescent solar concentrator lsc is a device for concentrating radiation solar radiation in particular to produce electricity. The lscs considered in this study are made of transparent plastic with a film of photoluminescent particles on the back similar to those used in leds.

By far the most amazing aspect of the product though comes from the use of glass. Solar cells mounted on the larger edge of the lsc convert energy captured from the sun into electric power. A luminescent solar concentrator lsc is made from plastic or glass with fluorescent materials or quantum dots in or on it. The dye absorbs light and then fluoresces creating a glow that propagates by total internal reflection to the edge of the sheet where the light is absorbed by a narrow solar cell.

This technology allows the seamless integration of photovoltaics and plastics. These efficient modular solar units could easily be hung on the side of a building. A luminescent solar concentrator lsc is a transparent piece of plastic or glass that has a fluorescent dye or quantum dots embedded or painted on it. Luminescent solar concentrators lsc are a very simple concept.

This is a promising technology because it allows a large collecting area of virtually transparent glass with a comparatively small area of expensive solar cells. Polycarbonate panels like the ones that i use for parasol modular can be coated and filled with luminescent molecules that can absorb incident sunlight and re emit it at longer wavelengths.