Physics Division Research Highlights Luminescent solar
concentrators Luminescent solar concentrators (LSC) represent
one promising approach to dramatically increase utilization of
solar energy because they can capture sunlight — including
diffuse light — over a large area using low-cost materials and
redirect that light onto much smaller solar cells. Moreover, the
solar spectrum can be segmented by using stacked concentrators
and bandgap-matched photo-voltaics to increase conversion
efficiency. The parameter space in luminescent solar
concentrator design, however, is vast, and optimizing their
performance empirically is a daunting challenge. Argonne
physicists have developed a simulation-based approach that can
focus experimental efforts in both materials and device design.
The analyses show that a single layer configuration is far from
optimal and adding a second layer in the LSC with wavelength
shifted material in the near infrared region significantly
increases the power output, while the gain in power by