Functionalizing the rear scatterer in a luminescent solar concentrator

Luminescent solar concentrators (LSCs) are presented that use a rear scattering layer made of a phosphorescent material for improving the use of the incident solar light spectrum. Besides simply scattering incident light that passes through the waveguide proper, the phosphor can absorb blue light and emit this light at a wavelength more amenable to absorption by the fluorescent dye. Integrated emission energies from the LSCs may be increased using the phosphor scatterer 4%-40% depending on the concentration of dye in the waveguide when compared to standard white scatterers. (C) 2012 American Institute of Physics. [doi:10.1063/1.3682065]