Dual patterned luminescent solar concentrator waveguides

Re-absorption of dye-emitted light is a primary loss mechanism in luminescent solar concentrator waveguides. Previous work has demonstrated patterning the waveguide surface with dyes will increase transport efficiency at the cost of total light absorption. This work demonstrates a patterned double waveguide system employing patterning offset between the plates which allows complete surface coverage but can generate an edge emission greater than a standard thin-film fully covered luminescent solar concentrator of the same total thickness, and is effective for all incident angles of light.