Light management using CsPbBr₃colloidal quantum dots for luminescent solar concentrators

CsPbBr₃colloidal quantum dots have been synthesized by hot-injection method showing spherical shape with an average diameter of ∼10.5 nm. UV-vis absorption of CsPbBr₃colloidal quantum dots shows a broad spectrum with an optical bandgap of ∼2.3682 eV. The steady-state photoluminescence measurement reveals a narrow emission peak at 2.352 eV with full-width at half maximum of 0.113 eV. Absolute photoluminescence quantum yield of colloidal quantum dots dispersed in poly(methyl methacrylate) was found to be 60 ± 1%. The time-resolved photoluminescence data recorded at 266 nm excitation were well fitted using a mono-exponential curve with a decay time of 25.36 (5) ns. A luminescent solar concentrator was fabricated using colloidal quantum dots in transparent poly(methyl methacrylate) polymer uniformly coated over glass substrate that shows an external optical conversion efficiency of ∼5.4% under one sun illumination. The experimental results presented in this manuscript reveals that luminescent solar concentrator prepared using colloidal CsPbBr₃quantum dots shows absorption in wide spectral range, high absorption coefficient, high photoluminescence quantum yield, high external optical conversion efficiency, and good photostability, thermal stability and long-term stability under ambient conditions and therefore are in many ways superior to the other luminescent materials explored for LSC devices.