Luminescent solar concentrators (LSCs), or "solar windows," are emerging as viable solutions for building-integrated photovoltaics (BIPVs). As they serve as both power generators and glazing units, maintaining high optical clarity is key. In this work, we present a large-area (>800 cm(2)) silicon quantum dot (Si QD)-based LSC, combining high aesthetics, durability, and photovoltaic performance. It has an average visible transmittance (AVT) of 83% and negligible haze, enabled by a customized UV-curing system and optimized QD loading in polymer. This prototype exhibits the lowest attenuation coefficient for waveguided luminescence, to the best of our knowledge, among reported values for all LSC systems. It can deliver a power conversion efficiency (PCE) of up to 1.24% with back reflection. Remarkedly, long-term durability is demonstrated through 3000 h of accelerated UV aging (UV-340 nm, 40 degrees C), equivalent to similar to 3 years of sunlight exposure. Photon and power budget measurements reveal that this device can fully power electrochromic (EC) or polymer-dispersed liquid crystal (PDLC) smart windows of equal size, without compromising transparency and functionality. These results underscore the potential of Si QD-LSCs as benign scalable photovoltaic glazing for future buildings.

A nanocomposite of metal nanoclusters/OSTE is fabricated through off-stoichiometric thiol-ene polymerization, incorporating adamantanethiol-protected electrum nanoclusters Au_23-xAg_x(SAdm)₁₅ (where x = 7.44) along with the OSTE monomer. During the photopolymerization, there is a transforfation of the precursor nanoclusters and the nanocomposite achieves a maximum photoluminescence quantum yield of ≈73% at 740 nm and 60% at the 850 nm emission peak. The photophysical characteristics of nanocomposite AuAgNCs@OSTE are examined at both ambient and low temperatures, revealing an improved radiative recombination mechanism through the interactions with polymer radicals. This high photoluminescence quantum yield near-infrared-emitting AuAgNCs@OSTE material, distinguished by a larger Stokes shift, is utilized to fabricate luminescent solar concentrators measuring 5 × 5 × 0.13 cm³. Experimental measurements are conducted to determine the absorption coefficient, reabsorption coefficient, absorption cross-section, and volume concentration of the device. Additionally, theoretical evaluations of waveguiding efficiency and power conversion efficiency are performed and compared with quantum dot-based alternatives. The findings indicate that the metal NCs@OSTE nanocomposite has the potential to function as a highly efficient, heavy-metal-free nanophosphor, demonstrating superior overall performance for semi-transparent luminescent solar concentrator devices and being suitable for a broad range of light conversion applications in the NIR spectrum.

This Letter introduces an analytical approach to estimate the waveguiding efficiency of large-area luminescent solar concentrators (LSCs), where the edges are covered by a var-ied number of mirrors and solar cells. The model provides physically relevant description in the whole range of optical (absorption, scattering) and geometrical (size) parameters of rectangular LSCs. A 19 x 19 cm2 silicon quantum dot -based LSC has been fabricated to verify the theory. Within an experimental error, the predicted waveguiding efficiency matched well the measured one. A critical LSC size, beyond which a part of the device turns inactive, has been deter-mined as N/& alpha; for N attached solar cells (one or two) and LSC material absorption coefficient & alpha;. This model provides a straightforward waveguiding analysis tool for large-area LSCs with different structural parameters relevant for both high concentration ratio and glazing applications.

Nanoclusters (NCs) are aggregates of a countable number of particles which can exist in both condensed and gas phases. Gas phase unprotected clusters known as ‘naked clusters’ are ensembles of atoms or molecules that do not have a stabilizing ligand shell. These gas phase naked clusters bridge the gap between the molecules and materials by allowing the molecular level studies of their gas phase properties in the absence of ligands and solvent medium. Typically, these clusters are extremely reactive under ambient conditions due to the absence of protecting ligands and cannot be stored in their free state. In a typical experiment, naked clusters are prepared in a vacuum or under an inert atmosphere where their properties are investigated and their characterization is performed. The methods of preparation of a variety of naked clusters and various ionization and detection techniques have been discussed in this chapter. Further, their gas phase reactivity, catalysis, various characterization techniques, clusters supported on solids are also discussed in detail.