Highly Efficient Tandem Luminescent Solar Concentrators with a Stokes Shift Exceeding 100 nm Based on Giant InP...

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Nanotechnology
• Renewable Energy

Background:

• Indium phosphide (InP) quantum dots (QDs) offer excellent optical properties for luminescent solar concentrators (LSCs).
• Self-absorption losses hinder the performance of InP-based LSCs.
• Manganese (Mn2+) doping is a strategy to mitigate these losses.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the role of halide precursors in Mn2+ doping efficiency for InP QDs.
• To enhance the optical properties and stability of InP QDs for LSC applications.
• To develop high-performance, eco-friendly LSCs.

Main Methods:

• Synthesis of Mn:InP/ZnS giant quantum dots (14.3 nm) using iodide precursors.
• Characterization of optical properties, including Stokes shift and photoluminescence quantum yield (PLQY).
• Assessment of QD stability under accelerated aging conditions (60 °C, 90% humidity, blue light).

Main Results:

• Iodide precursors facilitated enhanced Mn2+ incorporation and shell growth due to reduced cation binding energy.
• Synthesized QDs exhibited a large Stokes shift (101 nm) and high PLQY (83%).
• The QDs demonstrated exceptional stability, retaining 80% of their initial emission after 1000 hours of aging.

Conclusions:

• The use of iodide precursors is critical for efficient Mn2+ doping in InP QDs.
• The developed Mn:InP/ZnS QDs show state-of-the-art performance for InP-based LSCs.
• These findings pave the way for stable and efficient eco-friendly LSC technologies.