Polymer Nanocomposite Luminescent Spectrum Convertors For Photovoltaic Energy Harvesting
Abstract
The primary goal is to verify the hypothesis that polymer nanocomposite films doped with nanoparticles of rare-earth (RE)-doped fluorides and deposited using the open-air pulsed-laser deposition (PLD) will function as efficient luminescent solar concentrators (LSCs). The prime goal will be reached through the attainment of the following objectives: (a) fabrication of the polymer nanocomposite LSC films initially in vacuum; (b) fabrication of the polymer nanocomposite LSC films in open air; (c) characterization of the produced polymer nanocomposite LSC films in terms; (d) performance evaluation of the LSCs based on the produced polymer nanocomposite films; (e) data analysis and conclusions on reaching the goal; (f) reporting and dissemination; (g) training four undergraduate STEM students through the participation in the project. The following approaches will include: (1) Polymer nanocomposite LSC films of polymer poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) with the nanoparticles of downconverison phosphor NaYF4:Yb3+,Er3+ will be deposited on window glass substrates using the concurrent multi-beam, multi-target pulsed laser deposition and matrix assisted pulsed laser evaporation (MBMTPLD/ MAPLE) in vacuum; (2) The same films will be deposited in open air using the modified MBMT-PLD/MAPLE system; (3) The films will be characterize using X-ray spectroscopy, electron scanning and atomic force microscopies, FTIR, and optical absorption and fluorescence spectroscopies to establish the integrity of the polymer and the nanoadditive after the laser deposition and to determine the optimal proportion of the RE ions for the downconversion of the sunlight spectrum in the near-infra-red radiation essential for the LSC operation; and (4) To evaluate the concentration power of the proposed LSC films. If the power reaches the expected value of ten for the films deposited in open air – to make conclusions on reaching the goal.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Jun 11, 2018
- Source ID
- FA95501810364
Entities
People
- Abdalla Darwish
Organizations
- Air Force Office of Scientific Research
- Dillard University
- United States Air Force