General Trends in the Performance of Quantum Dot Luminescent Solar Concentrators (LSCs) Revealed Using the ?Effective LSC Quality Factor?

CuInSe2-xSx(CISeS) quantum dots (QDs) arepromising materials for implementing luminescent solarconcentrators (LSCs). Their benefits include near-infrared(NIR) absorption onset, efficient NIR photoluminescence(PL), and low reabsorption losses stemming from the intragapcharacter of their emission. To streamline optimization ofCISeS QDs for LSC applications, we develop an analyticalmodel which allows us to relate the absorptance-optimizedexternal quantum efficiency (EQE) to the QD PL quantumyield (QY) and theeffective LSC quality factor,< Q >, used tocharacterize the interplay between the QD's light-harvestingability and self-induced reabsorption losses. Specifically, weshow that the peak EQE can be approximated by the product ofQY and log(< Q >), the conclusion validated by the numerical analysis of 47 QD samples. Interestingly, according to themodeling, the QDs with < Q >= 10.5 and QY = 78% were expected to yield the highest EQE in the surveyed group (11.8% forLSC dimensions 9.5x9.5x0.77 cm3). This prediction was confirmed by experimental measurements that indicated an EQEof 11.7% for this particular sample. We anticipate that the developed formalism will simplify optimization of CISeS QDs forLSC applications and facilitate further developments in the LSC area

Automated summary

Researchers have developed an analytical model to predict the optimal performance of CuInSe2-xSx (CISeS) quantum dots in luminescent solar concentrators (LSCs). The model suggests that quantum dots with < Q > = 10.5 and QY = 78% exhibit the highest external quantum efficiency (EQE) under specific conditions.