Sunlight activated lanthanide complex for luminescent solar collector applications: effect of waveguide matrix

• Published in: Journal of physics. D, Applied physics Vol. 50; no. 7; pp. 75501 - 75507
• Main Authors: Shahi, Praveen Kumar, Singh, Priyam, Rai, Shyam Bahadur
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: IOP Publishing 22.02.2017
• Subjects: curve; Eu(DBM); LSCs; Phen
• ISSN: 0022-3727; 1361-6463
• DOI: 10.1088/1361-6463/aa4ecd

The performance of Eu(DBM)3Phen complex (EDP) dispersed in PMMA poly-(methyl methacrylate) polymer matrix, as simple planner luminescent solar collectors (LSCs) is demonstrated using spectroscopic and photovoltaic (PV) measurements. The organic ligands absorb ultra-violet-blue (UV-blue) radiation (220-450 nm) very efficiently and transfer its energy to the Eu3+ ion, which gives an intense red emission even in sunlight exposure. The excellent optical properties of EDP in PMMA permit its coating on the front surface of c-Si solar cell (10  ×  10 cm2) for PV measurements. The PV characterizations reveal the improvement in the short circuit current density (Jsc) of PV cell and maximum improvement is found to be 4.6% for 2.5 wt% EDP concentration in PMMA matrix. The efficiency of solar cell increases from 17.22% to 18.33% for bare and 2.5% EDP in PMMA. At a higher concentration of EDP, the thin film starts losing its transparency and hence PV efficiency decreases. These results illustrate that a EDP complex combined with a PV cell could work as a prototype of a new generation solar cell.