Polymer/quantum dot (QD) luminescent solar concentrators (LSCs) use randomly dispersed, down-converting QD phosphors blended in a polymer waveguide to absorb sunlight, trap photons by total internal reflection, and deliver high irradiance, narrowband output light for driving photovoltaics and other solar energy conversion devices. QDs can have numerous types of ligands that provide functionality for different purposes. In our work, we have prepared poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) polymer ligands bound to the surface of QDs to compatibilize the nanocrystal in a methyl methacrylate (MMA)/PMMA solvent. This solution is then set into its final polymer/QD LSC film by radical polymerization of MMA monomers. The influence of the PMMA polymer ligand at the QD surface on QD aggregation in these LSCs and the resulting effects on light scattering will be presented.

Poly(methyl methacrylate) functionalized nanocrystal quantum dots for suspension in luminescent solar concentrators

2019 Fall National Meeting

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