Luminescent solar concentrators (LSCs) with styrene (ST) and methylmethacrylate (MMA) of different percentage as the matrix were prepared by a casting method using ponceau 2R. DSC has been used to compare the thermal stability of the different LSCs. FTIR spectroscopy shows that appearance of -N=N- for ponceau 2R in all ST/MMA matrixes indi-cating that the highest stability of this kind of dye in these matrixes. The values of the optical band gap (Eg) have been obtained from direct allowed transition before and after the samples have been exposed to sunlight for 9 weeks. Photo-degradation studies revealed that the more photo-stable dye doped in PMMA matrix than in other matrixes. The results showed that the homo PMMA/ponceau 2R system has the highest fluorescence quantum yield (Qf). Therefore this sam-ple can be selected for field performance of fluorescent solar collectors. The photovoltaic cell coupled with homo PMMA/2R LSC shows a maximum efficiency, 2% compared to the normal one. |
