Biphosphor Carbon Dots/Chlorophyll System Entirely Derived from Chlorella Microalgae for Luminescent Solar...

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Biotechnology
• Photochemistry

Background:

• Microalgae biomass offers a sustainable source for advanced functional materials.
• Carbon dots (CDs) and chlorophyll (Chl) are key components for light-harvesting systems.
• Developing multifunctional luminescent systems requires integrating biological and synthetic components.

Purpose of the Study:

• To create a novel luminescent system by combining carbon dots (CDs) and chlorophyll (Chl) derived from Chlorella pyrenoidosa.
• To investigate the photoluminescence properties and spectral response of the CDs/Chl system (CDCS).
• To explore the potential of CDCS in luminescent solar concentrators (LSCs) and assess the impact of additives like PEG-200.

Main Methods:

• Utilized acetic acid:cholinium chloride (AA/ChCl) solvent and microwave reaction for material synthesis.
• Characterized carbon dots (CDs) and the CDCS using photoluminescence spectroscopy.
• Employed confocal microscopy to study pigment protection and analyzed the effect of poly-(ethylene glycol) oligomers (PEG-200) on luminescence.

Main Results:

• Synthesized a CDCS capable of interacting with the entire visible solar spectrum.
• Observed concentration-dependent luminescence properties of CDCS, with blue shift upon dilution.
• Demonstrated that PEG-200 acts as a modulating agent, affecting PL intensity and wavelengths, and stabilizing fluorescence.
• Fabricated a luminescent solar concentrator (LSC) with competitive photostability and efficiency (11% optical, 0.2% power conversion).

Conclusions:

• Microalgae can serve as precursors and integrated components for advanced functional luminescent materials.
• The developed CDCS exhibits tunable luminescence and potential for solar energy applications.
• The study highlights the successful integration of biological pigments with nanomaterials for enhanced optical properties.