Increasing the Number of Sides of a Luminescent Solar Concentrator can Increase its Power Output

Luminescent Solar Concentrators (LSCs) are fluorescent sheets of glass or plastic that absorb sunlight and concentrate their fluorescence using total internal reflection onto a small area of photovoltaic solar cells for energy conversion. LSCs have the potential to generate electricity at a lower cost than standard solar panels. Current LSCs are designed as squares. This shape can cause non-uniform illumination along its edges leading to current mismatch in the solar cells resulting in loss of power output. We present results showing that changing the LSC’s shape closer to that of a circle decreases current mismatch by improving the uniformity of illumination.