Stable Colored Photovoltaics with Thiol-Ene Crosslinked InP/ZnSexS1-x/ZnS Quantum Dot-Polymer Downshifting Layers

Abstract

Building integrated photovoltaics (BIPVs) combine building materials and PV cells to support net zero energy buildings and maintain aesthetics. Quantum dot-luminescent downshifting (QD-LDS) technology can improve BIPV performance by converting barely harvested ultraviolet light into wavelengths that correspond to the high-efficiency range of the device, using environmentally benign materials such as indium phosphide (InP) QDs. Despite their potential, InP QDs face photochemical instability against outdoor environments. To address this issue, an approach is demonstrated to formulate polymer composites with InP QDs using thiol-ene bonds, forming a crosslinked network with a transparent acrylate resin. The polymer composite shields the QDs from environmental factors, enhancing stability without deteriorating transmittance. The formulation of QD-polymer composite enables to integrate the QD-LDS layer into various dimensions with high degree of freedom for efficient and pleasant applying BIPV. Colored PV utilizing QD-LDS layer demonstrates potential for developing highly efficient and stable BIPV modules, paving the way for innovative and sustainable energy solutions.