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Projeto de investigação
Powering the planet from space: enhancing solar energy harvesting in space through luminescent solar concentrators and converting layers for photovoltaic devices in solar power satellites
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Electrochromic windows based on luminescent acrylate/ionosilicas
Publication . Pinheiro, Daniela; Pereira, Rui F. P.; Gonçalves, Alexandra; Correia, Sandra F. H.; Silva, M. Manuela; Fortunato, Elvira; Gonçalves, Maria Cristina; Ferreira, Rute A. S.; de Zea Bermudez, Verónica; CENIMAT-i3N - Centro de Investigação de Materiais (Lab. Associado I3N); DCM - Departamento de Ciência dos Materiais; Springer Science Business Media
Poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA)-based composite films doped with lanthanide-doped sol–gel derived imidazolium-based ionosilicas (IS-Ln) were recently proposed as active layers of luminescent down shifting (LDS) layers, but subsequent work demonstrated also their potential as electrolytes for electrochromic devices (ECDs) with foreseen application in smart windows of energy-efficient buildings. Nevertheless, some challenges remained to be addressed in the latter devices, the most critical one being the poor solubility of PMMA in the ionic liquid used in the formulation of these materials. To avoid this drawback, in the present work we propose novel lanthanide-containing acrylate/ionosilicas (AC/IS-Ln, Ln = Tb3+, Eu3+). The transparent, homogeneous, and luminescent hybrid materials synthesized are characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, thermogravimetric analysis, atomic force microscopy, contact angle measurements, ionic conductivity, and photoluminescence spectroscopy. Optimized samples are successfully employed as electrolytes in luminescent ECD prototypes. The ECD device doped with AC/IS-Eu shows good cycling stability with reproducible bleaching/coloring over 50 chronoamperometry cycles, high coloration efficiency (CE) values CEin/CEout in the visible (−89/+98 cm2 C−1), and near-infrared (−126/138 cm2 C−1) spectral regions, and outstanding memory effect. Graphical Abstract: (Figure presented.)
Transparent nature-based luminescent solar concentrator with NIR emission and integrated thermal sensing
Publication . Correia, Sandra F. H.; P. Falcão, Bruno; Figueiredo, Gonçalo; Vaz, Bárbara M. C.; Contieri, Letícia S.; Mesquita, Leonardo M. de Souza; Almeida, Juliana; Fradinho, Joana C.; Pinto, Diana C. G. A.; Fu, Lianshe; André, Paulo S.; Ventura, Sónia P. M.; Ferreira, Rute A. S.; Sencadas, Vitor; UCIBIO - Applied Molecular Biosciences Unit; DQ - Departamento de Química; LAQV@REQUIMTE; RSC - Royal Society of Chemistry
The engineering of luminescent solar concentrators (LSCs) offers a way to turn windows into energy-generating units while maintaining transparency. Through UV/blue down-shifting materials to the red/near-infrared (NIR) spectral region, the performance of building integrated photovoltaics is maximized without compromising indoor light quality. The most efficient solutions are based on quantum dots, which raise environmental concerns. To address this, natural renewable materials, like bacteriochlorophyll (BChl) from phototrophic bacteria were used to fabricate an LSC prototype dispersed in a styrene-ethylene-butylene-styrene (SEBS) matrix. The LSCs emit in the red/NIR region with an emission quantum yield of ∼7%, demonstrating external photon efficiency and electrical device efficiency values of ∼1.0% and ∼0.04%, respectively. The thermal dependence of the BChl/SEBS emission is used to set two independent thermometric parameters based on the emission and the electrical power generated by the LSC edge-mounted photovoltaic cells with relative sensitivity values up to ∼2% °C−1, which is a remarkable performance. This prototype was scaled up for an active area of 0.1 m2, representing the first large-area LSC using nature-based red/NIR emission centers.
Enhancing the efficiency of luminescent solar concentrators via soft colloidal lithography negative templating
Publication . Guerrero-Felix, J. G.; Correia, S. F. H.; Alexandre, M.; Gonzalez-Gomez, C. D.; Sencadas, V.; Fu, L.; Ruiz-Reina, E.; André, Paulo Sérgio B.; Moraila-Martinez, C. L.; Mendes, M. J.; Ferreira, R. A. S.; Fernandez-Rodriguez, M. A.; DCM - Departamento de Ciência dos Materiais; CENIMAT-i3N - Centro de Investigação de Materiais (Lab. Associado I3N); UNINOVA-Instituto de Desenvolvimento de Novas Tecnologias; Elsevier
Building-integrated photovoltaics (BIPV) offers a sustainable pathway by seamlessly incorporating PV cells into architectural elements like façades and windows. In this study, we investigate the potential of luminescent down-shifting solar concentrators in combination with a nanophotonic light-trapping scheme to improve the optical-guiding capabilities and thereby enhance the energy conversion efficiency. We propose a novel cost-effective method to fabricate the photonic structures via soft colloidal lithography negative templating of thin films of TiO2 nanoparticles, successfully scaling the production to 11x11 cm2 glass windows. Through simulations and optical-electrical characterization, we demonstrate substantial improvements in energy harvesting for different angles of solar irradiation. We found increases in power output ranging from 57% for angles of incidence below 45° to above 100% for 60° thanks to the nanostructured TiO2 nanoparticles coatings added to a bottom down-shifting layer. This shows that such integrated approach can enhance both the efficiency and aesthetic appeal of solar solutions in urban environments, advancing the design of energy-efficient, sustainable buildings. Our methodology ensures consistent solar energy capture all year-round, for the relevant range of sunlight incidence angles, while preserving the transparency and multifunctionality of building elements.
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Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia
Programa de financiamento
CEEC IND5ed
Número da atribuição
2022.03740.CEECIND/CP1716/CT0006