Solar Concentrators and Conversion Layers Based on Colloidal Quantum Dots

Conversion layers (CLs) and luminescent solar concentrators (LSCs) are effective strategies for spectrally converting and guiding incident light to enhance photovoltaic performance. However, the optical behavior and stability of quantum dots (QDs) in such systems remain underexplored. In this study, CuZnInS/ZnS (CZIS/ZnS) quantum dots were incorporated into polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) matrices to produce CLs and LSCs, which were subsequently integrated with CuInS2 (CIS) quantum dot-sensitized solar cells (QDSSCs). The CL and LSC devices yielded efficiency enhancements of 10.3% and 13%, respectively, attributed to the QDs’ reduced reabsorption losses and high photoluminescence efficiency. Although the addition of a second ZnS shell increased the emission intensity of the QDs, it did not mitigate photodegradation under continuous illumination, demonstrating that the intrinsic degradation of the nanocrystals primarily limits the device stability. These results highlight the potential of QD-based CLs and LSCs for photovoltaic spectral engineering while underscoring the need for improved QD stability and optimized QD polymer matrices for long-term operation.