Poly(methyl methacrylate) Films with High Concentrations of Silicon Quantum Dots for Visibly Transparent Luminescent Solar Concentrators

Samantha K.E. Hill; Ryan Connell; Jacob Held; Colin Peterson; Lorraine Francis; Marc A. Hillmyer; Vivian E. Ferry; Uwe Kortshagen

doi:10.1021/acsami.9b22903

Poly(methyl methacrylate) Films with High Concentrations of Silicon Quantum Dots for Visibly Transparent Luminescent Solar Concentrators

Samantha K.E. Hill, Ryan Connell, Jacob Held, Colin Peterson, Lorraine Francis, Marc A. Hillmyer, Vivian E. Ferry, Uwe Kortshagen

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

44 Scopus citations

Abstract

Silicon quantum dots (Si QDs) are attractive, nontoxic luminophores for luminescent solar concentrators (LSCs). Here, we produced Si QD/poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) films on glass by doctor-blading polymer solutions and achieved films with low light scattering at an order of magnitude higher Si QD weight fraction than has been achieved previously in the bulk. We suggest that the fast solidification rate of films as compared to slow bulk polymerization is an enabling factor in avoiding large agglomerates within the nanocomposites. Scanning electron microscopy confirmed that ∼100 nm or larger QD agglomerates exist in light-scattering films, and photoluminescence intensity measurements show that light scattering, if present, significantly reduces waveguiding efficiencies for LSCs. Nonscattering films fabricated in this work exhibit high ultraviolet absorption (>80%) paired with high visible transmission (>87%) and minimal visible haze (∼1%), making them well suited for semitransparent coatings for LSCs realized as solar harvesting windows.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	4572-4578
Number of pages	7
Journal	ACS Applied Materials and Interfaces
Volume	12
Issue number	4
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1021/acsami.9b22903
State	Published - Jan 29 2020

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Publisher Copyright:
Copyright © 2020 American Chemical Society.

Keywords

coating
luminescent solar concentrators
nanocomposite
poly(methyl methacrylate)
silicon quantum dots
thin film

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title = "Poly(methyl methacrylate) Films with High Concentrations of Silicon Quantum Dots for Visibly Transparent Luminescent Solar Concentrators",

abstract = "Silicon quantum dots (Si QDs) are attractive, nontoxic luminophores for luminescent solar concentrators (LSCs). Here, we produced Si QD/poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) films on glass by doctor-blading polymer solutions and achieved films with low light scattering at an order of magnitude higher Si QD weight fraction than has been achieved previously in the bulk. We suggest that the fast solidification rate of films as compared to slow bulk polymerization is an enabling factor in avoiding large agglomerates within the nanocomposites. Scanning electron microscopy confirmed that ∼100 nm or larger QD agglomerates exist in light-scattering films, and photoluminescence intensity measurements show that light scattering, if present, significantly reduces waveguiding efficiencies for LSCs. Nonscattering films fabricated in this work exhibit high ultraviolet absorption (>80\%) paired with high visible transmission (>87\%) and minimal visible haze (∼1\%), making them well suited for semitransparent coatings for LSCs realized as solar harvesting windows.",

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note = "Publisher Copyright: Copyright {\textcopyright} 2020 American Chemical Society.",

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AU - Peterson, Colin

AU - Francis, Lorraine

AU - Hillmyer, Marc A.

AU - Ferry, Vivian E.

AU - Kortshagen, Uwe

PY - 2020/1/29

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N2 - Silicon quantum dots (Si QDs) are attractive, nontoxic luminophores for luminescent solar concentrators (LSCs). Here, we produced Si QD/poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) films on glass by doctor-blading polymer solutions and achieved films with low light scattering at an order of magnitude higher Si QD weight fraction than has been achieved previously in the bulk. We suggest that the fast solidification rate of films as compared to slow bulk polymerization is an enabling factor in avoiding large agglomerates within the nanocomposites. Scanning electron microscopy confirmed that ∼100 nm or larger QD agglomerates exist in light-scattering films, and photoluminescence intensity measurements show that light scattering, if present, significantly reduces waveguiding efficiencies for LSCs. Nonscattering films fabricated in this work exhibit high ultraviolet absorption (>80%) paired with high visible transmission (>87%) and minimal visible haze (∼1%), making them well suited for semitransparent coatings for LSCs realized as solar harvesting windows.

AB - Silicon quantum dots (Si QDs) are attractive, nontoxic luminophores for luminescent solar concentrators (LSCs). Here, we produced Si QD/poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) films on glass by doctor-blading polymer solutions and achieved films with low light scattering at an order of magnitude higher Si QD weight fraction than has been achieved previously in the bulk. We suggest that the fast solidification rate of films as compared to slow bulk polymerization is an enabling factor in avoiding large agglomerates within the nanocomposites. Scanning electron microscopy confirmed that ∼100 nm or larger QD agglomerates exist in light-scattering films, and photoluminescence intensity measurements show that light scattering, if present, significantly reduces waveguiding efficiencies for LSCs. Nonscattering films fabricated in this work exhibit high ultraviolet absorption (>80%) paired with high visible transmission (>87%) and minimal visible haze (∼1%), making them well suited for semitransparent coatings for LSCs realized as solar harvesting windows.

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KW - thin film

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Poly(methyl methacrylate) Films with High Concentrations of Silicon Quantum Dots for Visibly Transparent Luminescent Solar Concentrators

Abstract

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Keywords

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UN SDGs

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