Luminescent solar concentrator based on large-Stokes shift tetraphenylpyrazine fluorophore combining aggregation-induced emission and intramolecular charge transfer features

Abstract

This study presents bulk configuration large-area luminescent solar concentrators (LSCs) incorporating a novel organic fluorophore (TPP1) based on tetraphenylpyrazine core symmetrically functionalized with electron-rich dimethylamine (donor) and electron-deficient cyano (acceptor) moieties. As confirmed experimentally and validated through a computational approach, TPP1 exhibits aggregation-induced emission and a large Stokes shift due to intramolecular charge transfer, making it an excellent candidate as a fluorophore in poly(methyl methacrylate) based LSCs. Based on promising photophysical properties, TPP1 LSCs with suitable concentration showed an internal and external photon efficiency of 23.7% and 2.33% under AM 1.5G illumination, respectively. The size scalability (up to 100 cm length) of TPP1 LSCs was also evaluated by employing analytical models. Moreover, the power conversion efficiency of 10 × 10 × 0.3 cm3 LSC (geometrical factor 8.33) was found to be 0.66% and 0.34%, with and without scattering background, respectively. Such outstanding optical and PV performances of TPP1 LSCs clearly illustrate that TPP1 with combined AIE and ICT features is a viable alternative to most organic dyes. Additionally, stability and aesthetics analysis of TPP1 LSCs also suggest their long-term use and compatibility with the built environment.