The world is constantly looking for cleaner ways to produce energy, and now there is a way that is barely noticeable to the average person. A team of researchers at Michigan State University have created a transparent luminescent solar concentrator that can be used on buildings, cell phones, and any other device that has a clear surface. This article explains what this new technology is made of and how it is used to harness solar energy. The transparent luminescent solar concentrator uses small organic molecules developed by the research team on a plastic-like material that absorb specific non-visible wavelengths of sunlight. The materials pick up the ultraviolet and the near infrared wavelengths that “glow” at another wavelength. The glowing light is then guided to the end of the plastic where it is converted to electricity by thin strips of photovoltaic solar cells. Because these materials do not absorb or emit light in the visible spectrum, they look transparent and do not block the view. So far, the solar conversion efficiency is close to 1 percent, but the researchers aim to reach efficiencies beyond 5 percent when fully optimized. Although it is still in its early stage, this new solar concentrator can produce energy in a non-intrusive way and has the potential to be scaled for commercial or industrial applications. (Communicated by Erika Ritchie)
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