The luminescent solar concentrator: a parameter study toward maximum efficiency

The Luminescent Solar Concentrator (LSC) consists of a transparent plate with solar cells connected to one or more sides. The plate contains luminescent species, like e.g. organic dyes or quantum dots. Part of the light emitted by the luminescent species is guided towards the solar cells by total internal reflection, the plate functioning as a waveguide. We have developed a ray-tracing model that describes the experimental results and can be used to determine the different loss mechanisms in the LSC. We will present a parameter study using this model which indicates some of the important aspects of the LSC.