Preparation of PMMA optical fibers and thin films containing optically active centers for application in photonics as luminescent solar concentrators

• Grant number: 22/03652-8
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctorate
• Effective date (Start): April 01, 2022
• Effective date (End): January 31, 2023
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Chemistry - Inorganic Chemistry
• Principal Investigator: Younes Messaddeq
• Grantee: Fábio José Caixeta
• Host Institution: Instituto de Química (IQ). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Araraquara. Araraquara , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 15/22828-6 - Pushing the boundaries of optical fibers: from photonics to optogenetics and environmental monitoring, AP.SPEC

Abstract

This plan describes the research activities to be carried out for the development of Luminescent Solar Concentrators (LSCs) based on thin films of oxysulfide, silicate, vanadate and molybdate thin films containing rare earth ions (RE), and polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) hollow optical fibers containing coordination compounds of Eu3+ and Tb3+ ions. The thin films will be prepared by the sol-gel methodology and the dip-coating technique, and the hollow optical fibers will be manufactured by the PMMA drawing technique. The assembly of the luminescent solar concentrators will be in the fiber cables or columns (bundles) forms. The performance of the LSCs will be evaluated as a function of energy conversion, concentration of light emitted through total internal reflection and the amount of energy that reaches the photovoltaic cell. (AU)