Importance

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Abstract

The present invention is directed to a luminescent waveguide device, and methods of making thereof, that may be used to convert solar energy into electricity. In particular, the present invention relates to extracting and waveguiding luminescence generated in a scattering medium so as to improve luminescent concentrator performance. By stacking one or a pair of transparent plates of refractive index slightly smaller than that of luminescent plate but still larger than that of air, a much greater fraction of re-emitted light by the embedded luminescent particles can be extracted so that the detrimental effect of particle scattering can be minimized. Additionally, by additionally using a high-efficiency diffractive optic component in the structure to redirect the re-emitted photons with angles falling into the escape zone to much larger angles so these otherwise outgoing photons can be waveguided by total internal reflection. These improvements minimize the critical-angle loss and increase the output light intensity at the ends of the waveguide.

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First Claim