A new approach to modelling quantum dot concentrators

Luminescent collectors have advantages over geometric concentrators in that tracking is unnecessary and both direct and diffuse radiation can be collected. However, development has been limited by the performance of luminescent dyes. We have recently proposed a novel concentrator in which the dyes are replaced by quantum dots (QDs). Advantages over dyes include that the absorption threshold can be tuned by choice of dot diameter, and that the red shift between absorption and luminescence is related to the spread of dot sizes. In this paper we discuss how we have developed a self-consistent thermodynamic model for planar concentrators which allows for re-absorption by the QDs. (C) 2002 Published by Elsevier Science B.V.