Large-Scale, Highly Efficient, and Visibly Transparent Luminescent Solar Concentrators Based on AIE Luminogens

Luminescent solar concentrators (LSCs) represent a promising, cost-effective complement to traditional photovoltaic systems. In this study, aggregation-induced emission luminogens (AIEgens) exhibiting excited-state intramolecular proton transfer (ESIPT) characteristics were synthesized to suppress reabsorption and maximize photoluminescence quantum yields (PLQY) in the aggregated state. Spectroscopic investigations and theoretical simulations elucidated the underlying luminescence mechanism. Consequently, colorless LSCs based on the optimized AIEgen, 3ANT-HBT, achieved a power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 0.5% with 99% average visible transmittance (AVT). This performance approaches the theoretical limit (PCE = 0.68%) for an ideal UV-harvesting device. More importantly, high efficiency was preserved over large areas (>400 cm²) with negligible self-absorption. This study demonstrates that integrating AIE and ESIPT is a promising strategy for developing efficient, scalable, and visually transparent solar harvesting technologies.