High performance fluorescent fiber solar concentrators employing double‐doped polymer optical fibers

Novel double-doped polymer optical fibers have been fabricated by a bulk polymerization and fiber drawing process for fluorescent fiber solar concentration applications. Poly(methyl methacrylate) has been used as host material and a combination of organic dyes (Perylene/Lumogen Orange/Coumarin 1/Coumarin 6)) and metalorganic materials (Eu(TTFA)3Phen) have been employed as dopants. A concise polymer analysis has been carried out, and the obtained fibers have been characterized under standard AM 1.5G solar simulator excitation. The output power generated at one of the end surfaces of each of the fibers have been measured for 6cm illuminated fiber length, obtaining a concentrated intensity of 0.31mW/mm2 and a fiber conversion efficiency of 0.41% in the best case. Besides, the performance of the fabricated fibers under different weather scenarios have been studied, showing good response at all the simulated day-conditions. Active fiber lengths of more than 6m have been successfully tested, obtaining output intensities of 1.3mW/mm2. Good performance under constant excitation has also been reported during photostability experiments. The results obtained may have a strong impact in the field of luminescent solar concentrators as they offer a promising cost-effective route to green energy production.