The potential of transparent sputtered NaI:Tm²⁺, CaBr₂:Tm²⁺, and CaI₂:Tm²⁺ thin films as luminescent solar concentrators

The parameters governing the performance of a luminescent solar concentrator (LSC) are determined for sputtered thin-films of NaI:Tm²⁺, CaBr₂:Tm²⁺, and CaI₂:Tm²⁺. These parameters are determined by using six gradient thin film material libraries, combinatorially sputtered from metallic...

Functionalizing window coatings with luminescence centers by combinatorial sputtering of scatter-free amorphous SiAlON: Eu²⁺ thin film composition libraries

SiAlON window coatings are applied on an industrial scale to achieve e.g. scratch-resistance and anti-reflection. Doping these SiAlONs with rare-earths adds luminescent functionality, which could be applied in photovoltaics. By using a combinatorial reactive sputtering approach, an amorphous thin film composition library with a Si:Al ratio...

Modelling and optimization of UV absorbing photovoltaic windows using a thin film AlN:Eu³⁺ luminescence library

Building-integrated photovoltaics are drawing much attention to make the built environment self-sufficient in terms of electricity. Luminescent solar concentrators (LSCs) can provide this electricity generation when used as photovoltaic windows. Paramount to an efficient LSC are non-overlapping absorption and emission spectra, to avoid self...

Method for the Detailed Characterization of Cosputtered Inorganic Luminescent Material Libraries

Understanding the behavior of combinatorially developed luminescent materials requires detailed characterization methods that have been lacking thus far. We developed a device for directly surveying the luminescent properties of thin-film libraries created through combinatorial gradient sputter deposition. Step-scan recorded excitation-,...

Rapid optimization of large-scale luminescent solar concentrators: evaluation for adoption in the built environment

The phenomenon of self-absorption is by far the largest influential factor in the eficiency of luminescent solar concentrators (LSCs), but also the most challenging one to capture computationally. In this work we present a model using a multiple-generation light transport (MGLT) approach to quantify light transport through single-layer...