LUMINESCENT SOLAR CONCENTRATORS COMPRISING SEMICONDUCTOR NANOCRYSTALS

摘要

Disclosed herein are embodiments of a composition comprising a polymer or sol-gel matrix and one or more nanocrystals. The composition is useful for making various products, including a luminescent solar concentrator. The nanocrystals are dispersed in the polymer or sol-gel matrix to reduce or substantially prevent nanocrystal-to-nanocrystal energy transfer and a subsequent reduction in the emission efficiency of the composition. The nanocrystals may comprise an antenna portion and an emitter portion, and in some embodiments the materials for the antenna and emitter portions are selected to produce a large Stokes shift between the absorption and emission wavelengths. In some embodiments, the polymer matrix comprises an acrylate polymer. Also disclosed herein is a method for making the composition, which may comprise a pre-polymerization step before the nanocrystals are introduced. Devices comprising the composition and a photovoltaic cell also are disclosed. In some examples, the device is a window.