Abstract Transparent luminescent solar concentrator (LSC) windows with edge-attached photovoltaic (PV) cells have the potential for improving building efficiency without compromising aesthetics and comfort. Optimization of such windows requires an inexpensive simulator for experimenting with various designs. We report, for the first time to the best of our knowledge, the simulator of a transparent LSC window in the form of a plastic container filled with a colloid of photoluminescent nanoparticles (NPs) in an organic solvent (1-propanol). The exemplary NPs were produced by ball milling of the powder of rare earth (RE)-doped phosphor NaYF4:Yb3+,Er3+ synthesized by the wet method. The NPs converted the ultraviolet (UV) solar spectrum into visible/near infrared (NIR) via spectral down-shifting and down-conversion (quantum cutting). With a photoluminescence quantum yield (PLQY) of the phosphor <0.4%, the LSC at a nanocolloid concentration of ∼0.1 g solids per 100 mL liquids demonstrated a power conversion efficiency of 0.34% and a power concentration ratio of ∼0.022 comparable to the LSCs with RE-doped NPs with 200 times greater PLQY. At the same time, the 3 cm thick LSC window simulator had ∼90% transmittance to the sunlight. The content and concentration of the nanocolloid could be easily modified to optimize the LSC window performance without a costly window making process.

中文翻译：

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发光太阳能聚光光伏窗的纳米胶体模拟器

摘要 带有边缘连接光伏 (PV) 电池的透明发光太阳能聚光器 (LSC) 窗户具有在不影响美观和舒适度的情况下提高建筑效率的潜力。这种窗口的优化需要一个廉价的模拟器来试验各种设计。据我们所知，我们首次报告了透明 LSC 窗口的模拟器，该模拟器采用塑料容器的形式，在有机溶剂（1-丙醇）中填充有光致发光纳米粒子 (NPs) 的胶体。示例性纳米颗粒是通过球磨稀土(RE)掺杂荧光粉NaYF4:Yb3+,Er3+的湿法合成的粉末来制备的。纳米粒子通过光谱下移和下转换（量子切割）将紫外（UV）太阳光谱转换为可见/近红外（NIR）。在荧光粉的光致发光量子产率 (PLQY) <0.4% 的情况下，LSC 在每 100 mL 液体中约 0.1 g 固体的纳米胶体浓度下显示出 0.34% 的功率转换效率和约 0.022 的功率集中比，与 LSC 相当使用 RE 掺杂的 NP，其 PLQY 大 200 倍。同时，3 cm 厚的 LSC 窗口模拟器对太阳光的透射率约为 90%。纳米胶体的含量和浓度可以很容易地修改，以优化 LSC 窗口的性能，而无需昂贵的窗口制造过程。022 与具有 200 倍 PLQY 的 RE 掺杂 NP 的 LSC 相当。同时，3 cm 厚的 LSC 窗口模拟器对太阳光的透射率约为 90%。纳米胶体的含量和浓度可以很容易地修改，以优化 LSC 窗口的性能，而无需昂贵的窗口制造过程。022 与具有 200 倍 PLQY 的 RE 掺杂 NP 的 LSC 相当。同时，3 cm 厚的 LSC 窗口模拟器对太阳光的透射率约为 90%。纳米胶体的含量和浓度可以很容易地修改，以优化 LSC 窗口的性能，而无需昂贵的窗口制造过程。