Luminescent solar concentrators based on lanthanide supramolecular architectures

Luminescent solar concentrators (LSCs) based on lanthanide (Ln = Eu, Gd, La) tetrahedral supramolecular architectures [Ln4L4] were designed and developed as innovative systems for photovoltaic electricity generation integrated into passive building components. Synthesis and characterization (FT-IR, 1H-NMR, UV-Vis, PL, PLE, PLQY, lifetime, EA) of the tetrahedral complexes of Eu3+, Gd3+ and La3+ are presented and discussed. LSC systems were then fabricated by depositing solutions of the synthesized complexes (DMSO/THF 3:2, PMMA 10% w/w) as films on glass tiles via the slot-die coating technique. The LSC samples photophysical (Uv-vis, PL, PLE, PLQY, lifetime), aesthetic (AVT, CRI), and functional properties (J-V curves, EQE, PCE, LUE) were then been tested, highlighting the europium-based structure as the most promising candidate for LSC technology among all the systems here studied.