Aggregation-induced emission-mediated spectral downconversion in luminescent solar concentrators

Abstract

The light-harvesting efficiency of luminescent solar concentrators (LSCs) is encumbered by reabsorption of emission and concentration quenching. Energy transfer from a high-concentration donor to a low-concentration energy trap can reduce reabsorption losses while maintaining efficient light collection. Emissive aggregates enable this approach by reducing the impact of concentration quenching, which is detrimental to the entire energy transfer process. Here we describe a LSC that utilizes emissive aggregates as energy-transfer pairs for downconversion. We characterize the photophysics of a benzothiadiazole-based emissive aggregate, PITBT-TPE, that complements a highly emissive donor, DPATPAN, and functions as a highly emissive energy-transfer acceptor even at high concentrations in excess of 180 mM in the PMMA matrix. Monte Carlo simulations of LSCs that leverage these emissive aggregates as energy-transfer pairs predicted notable optical efficiencies at large concentrator dimensions. We demonstrate for the first time a LSC that utilizes donor and acceptor AIE chromophores to reduce reabsorption.