Performance of Luminescent Solar Concentrators Integrated with Negative Replica Layers of Leaf Surface...

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Renewable Energy Engineering
• Optics

Background:

• Thin-film luminescent solar concentrators (LSCs) offer potential for solar energy harvesting.
• Low reflection at the air-glass interface can limit LSC performance.
• Optimizing light interaction within the phosphor layer is crucial for efficiency.

Purpose of the Study:

• To enhance the performance of semitransparent thin-film LSCs.
• To investigate the effect of leaf surface microstructures on light management.
• To explore the application of biomimetic surfaces in solar energy devices.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of negative replica layers mimicking leaf surface microstructures.
• Application of these layers to semitransparent thin-film LSCs.
• Experimental evaluation of optical collection efficiency with varying phosphors and haze ratios.

Main Results:

• Negative replica layers significantly increased optical collection efficiency compared to LSCs without them.
• LSCs incorporating negative replica layers demonstrated improved light scattering and longer light paths.
• High haze ratios in the replica layers correlated with higher optical collection efficiency.

Conclusions:

• Negative replica layers of leaf surface microstructures effectively enhance semitransparent thin-film LSC performance.
• Biomimetic surface structuring is a promising strategy for optimizing LSC efficiency.
• This approach holds potential for applications in building-integrated photovoltaics (BIPVs).