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 1.5 G solar simulator excitation. The output power generated at one of the end surfaces of each of the fibers have been measured for 6 cm illuminated fiber length, obtaining a concentrated intensity of 0.31 mW/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 6 m have been successfully tested, obtaining output intensities of 1.3 mW/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.