Luminescent Solar Concentrators and the Ways to Increase Their Efficiencies

Luminescent solar concentrators (LSCs) consist of transparent plates incorporated by luminescent species. The solar light falling on the large area of the plate surface is absorbed, converted to fluorescence, and emitted from the small area of the plate edges as concentrated fluorescent light. The device can decrease price of photovoltaic electricity by minimizing the amount of solar cells needed and connected to the active fluorescent plate. A similar approach can be used for creating active waveguides that can transfer daylight to dark areas of buildings and mines. The extensive research on organic materials and inorganic colorants in sol-gel glasses is presented. Suggestions for improving the present efficiency are outlined by the use of sol-gel glasses incorporated by fluorescent complexes and noble metal and copper nanoparticles (NPs).