Preparation and properties of CaF2: Tb3+/PMMA optical waveguide for luminescent solar concentrator

Luminescent solar concentrators are very attractive due to their potential application in Building-integrated photovoltaics. In this work, the CaF₂: Tb³⁺ nanoparticles chosen as the luminescent center in transparent substrate of luminescent solar concentrators. The PMMA chosen as the optical waveguide of luminescent solar concentrators. A series of CaF₂: Tb³⁺ nanoparticles with different Tb³⁺ doping concentrations and CaF₂: Tb³⁺ / PMMA optical waveguides with different CaF₂: Tb³⁺ nanoparticles doping concentrations were prepared, and identified by X-ray powder diffraction, scanning and transmission electron microscope, the relationship between emission intensity and irradiation time, thermogravimetric analysis and differential scanning calorimetry, UV - vis excitation spectra, emission spectra, decay dynamics and and photoluminescence quantum efficiency. The obtained nanoparticles are uniform and mono-disperse. The CaF₂: Tb³⁺/PMMA optical waveguides are transparent under sunlight. The photoluminescence properties fluorescence dynamics have been investigated. The results indicate that CaF₂: Tb³⁺/PMMA optical waveguides emit characteristic green light of Tb³⁺ ions, the lifetimes are longer and photoluminescence, thermal and chemical stability are relatively high, which are very suitable for luminescent solar concentrators.