Effects of Fabrication Methods on the Performance of Luminescent Solar Concentrators Based on Doped Polymer Optical Fibers

In this work, we detail two types of fabrication processes of four polymer optical fibers doped with lumogen dyes. The fiber preforms have been manufactured with two different methods: extrusion and casting. We have compared the performance of the two types of fibers as luminescent solar concentrators by calculating their optical efficiencies and concentration factors. The obtained results show better performance for those fibers manufactured by the casting process. We have also studied the photostability of the two types of fibers doped with the dye lumogen red under solar light radiation. A high thermal stability of the doped fibers has been observed.

Automated summary

This study detailed two fabrication processes of polymer optical fibers doped with lumogen dyes, comparing their optical efficiencies and concentration factors. Results showed better performance in fibers manufactured through casting. Additionally, the photostability of the fibers doped with lumogen red was studied under solar light radiation, showing high thermal stability.