Reducing the reabsorption effect in an optical concentrator by using a luminescent layer with multiple phosphors

The reabsorbing effect will prevent the receiving energy for the solar cell attached to the edge of a luminescent solar concentrator from increasing with the illuminated area. The conventional solar concentrator adopts a uniform luminescent layer made of only one type of phosphor or dye. When the light generated in the region of the luminescent layer far away from the solar cell propagates to the solar cell by multiple total internal reflections, it will have more chances to be reabsorbed when it enters the region of the luminescent layer near to the solar cell. We investigate how the reabsorption effect can be reduced by using a luminescent layer made of multiple phosphors such that the region with the phosphor absorbing the longer wavelength is arranged to cover the region nearer to the solar cell. Experimental results show that the proper coverage with multiple phosphors can reduce the reabsorption effect in our luminescent solar concentrator under test.