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Friday, 18 July 2025 09:43

Luminescent solar concentrators based on environmentally friendly tripodal D-(π-A)₃ triarylamine luminophores

Luminescent solar concentrators based on environmentally friendly tripodal D-(π-A)₃ triarylamine luminophores

Published in the Journal of Materials Chemistry C, a study presents the development of eco-friendly molecular luminophores based on a triphenylamine core for use in luminescent solar concentrators. These devices, which are ideal for photovoltaic integration in architectural applications, combine high visible transparency (AVT ~90%) with excellent optical performance, achieving internal photon efficiencies of up to 50% and external efficiencies exceeding 5%. The materials are synthesized through a multi-step process at room temperature, using green solvents and low-impact methodologies.

A research team from CNR-ISM, CNR-SCITEC, CNR-ISMN and Politecnico di Milano has published in the journal Journal of Materials Chemistry C a multidisciplinary study integrating sustainable synthesis, advanced photophysical characterization, and device implementation, with a focus on luminescent solar concentrators (LSCs), transparent devices that capture sunlight and convert it into energy, ideal for smart windows and building façades. The researchers developed three new triphenylamine-based luminophores, synthesized via a sustainable three-step route using non-toxic solvents (propan-1,2-diol) and room-temperature conditions. This approach enabled very high overall yields (up to 86%) and a low environmental impact in terms of waste production (total E-factor <190), aligning with green chemistry principles. The luminophores were embedded in PMMA matrices to fabricate highly transparent LSCs (AVT ~90%). The resulting devices exhibited excellent optical performance, with internal photonic efficiencies up to 50% and external ones exceeding 5%, among the highest values ever reported for transparent organic LSCs. The materials also showed outstanding photothermal stability and minimal spectral overlap between absorption and emission, crucial to minimize reabsorption losses. These results highlight the potential of TPA-based systems for building-integrated photovoltaics, where aesthetics, sustainability, and performance must go hand in hand. This work paves the way for future development of efficient, low-impact, large-area LSCs.

The authors gratefully acknowledge fundings from the Italian Ministry of University and Research (MUR) (PRIN 2022 Prot. 2022BREBFN, project: NIR+), Fondazione Cariplo (Ref. 2023-1656, project: PHASMA), ICSC-Centro Nazionale di Ricerca in High Performance Computing, Big Data and Quantum Computing, funded by European Union-NextGenerationEU (grant CN00000013), HORIZON EUROPE under the project ‘‘Fast plasma-assisted perovskite crystallization for high efficiency lead-free perovskite thin film photovoltaics’’ (SMARTLINE PV), grant agreement no. 101122327.

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