Luminescent solar concentrators and the reabsorption problem

The problem of reabsorption in luminescent solar concentrators (LSC) is discussed. A mathematical development is presented which enables the LSC gain to be calculated based on the optical properties of the materials and a random walk formalism. Two- and three-dimensional analyses are used. A detailed set of calculations for a common dye (rhodamine 6G) is used to examine the practicality of employing a single dye. The effects of diameter, thickness, and quantum yield on the LSC output are presented. The spectrum of the LSC output as a function of concentration is calculated. It is suggested that LSCs can be made more efficient with a system which utilizes radiationless electronic excited state transport and trapping as intermediate steps between absorption and reemission. Trap emission substantially avoids the reabsorption problem.