RUI: Application of Plasmonic-Metal Nanoparticles to Increase the Efficiency and Photostability of Luminescent Solar Concentrators

标题：RUI：应用等离子体-金属纳米颗粒来提高发光太阳能聚光器的效率和光稳定性主要研究人员：宾夕法尼亚州立大学的Wittmershaus，Bruce P.大学园区的研究目标和方法：这项研究的目标是设计和制造使用寿命至少10年的高效和光稳定的发光太阳能聚光器。该方法是使用金属纳米颗粒从有机染料中产生金属增强的荧光，从而增加荧光产量和光稳定性。不同形状和大小的纳米颗粒将在单染料和多染料发光浓缩器中进行测试。智能优点：光降解是发光集中器阻碍其商业化的一个主要且经常被忽视的问题。金属增强荧光是一种独特的解决方案，通过增加一种染料S的辐射率来大大提高光稳定性。它还增加了荧光产量。产率较低的红外线染料可以作为选矿厂的可行材料。这通过将转换后的太阳光的范围扩展到可见光之外来提高集中器的效率。提高荧光材料的光稳定性和产量将有利于其他重要的应用，如染料敏化太阳能电池、生物荧光标签和发光二极管。更广泛的影响：负担得起的太阳能转换的潜在发展将通过减少对化石燃料的依赖而使我们的社会受益。向本科生提供在纳米技术和太阳能关键目标领域进行和提出跨学科研究的必要培训。面向初中生和高中生的推广计划让公众了解我们的工作，并让学生对太阳能和纳米技术的研究感到兴奋。我们向学生组织进行的研究报告和参与大学辅导计划，鼓励代表不足的学生考虑在STEM领域学习，因为这表明他们作为本科生是可以进入的。

Title: RUI: Application of Plasmonic-Metal Nanoparticles to Increase the Efficiency and Photostability of Luminescent Solar ConcentratorsPrincipal Investigator: Wittmershaus, Bruce P. , Pennsylvania State Univ. University ParkResearch Objectives and Approaches: The objective of this research is to design and fabricate highly efficient and photostable luminescent solar concentrators with usable lifetimes of at least 10 years. The approach is to use metal nanoparticles to cause metal-enhanced fluorescence from organic dyes thereby increasing fluorescence yield and photostability. Different shapes and sizes of nanoparticles will be tested in single and multiple-dye luminescent concentrators. Intellectual Merit: Photodegradation is a major and often overlooked problem of luminescent concentrators preventing their commercialization. Metal-enhanced fluorescence is a unique solution greatly improving photostability by increasing a dye?s radiative rate. It also increases fluorescence yield. Infra-red dyes with poor yield can be made into viable materials for concentrators. This improves concentrator efficiency by extending the range of converted sunlight beyond the visible. Improving both the photostability and yield of fluorescent materials will benefit other important applications such as dye-sensitized solar cells, biological fluorescent labels, and light-emitting diodes. Broader Impacts: The potential development of affordable solar energy conversion will benefit our society through less reliance on fossil fuels. Necessary training is provided to undergraduates on performing and presenting interdisciplinary research in the critical target areas of nanotechnology and solar energy. Outreach programs for middle and high school students inform the public about our work and get students excited about solar and nanotechnology research. Our research presentations to student organizations and participation in college mentoring programs encourage underrepresented students to consider study in STEM fields by showing that it is accessible to them as undergraduates.