Oriented Dye-Zeolite Luminescence Concentrators With Low Scattering
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional luminescence concentrators face limitations due to early emission losses, intrinsic absorption, thick chromophore layers, stability issues, and difficulty in creating structured materials with different refractive indices, which restrict their efficiency, lifetime, and flexibility in applications such as LCD backlighting.
Innovation Solution
The development of a luminescence concentrator and disperser using dye-zeolite antenna layers embedded in a transparent polymer, where zeolite crystals are aligned to suppress light scattering and enhance stability, allowing for efficient energy transfer and homogeneous light emission.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If dyes are dissolved in a relatively thick layer of several millimeters, then chromophores can be distributed within the layer, but this restricts optimization of optical properties and makes it difficult to build up structured materials with different refractive indices
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the chromophore distribution into discrete zeolite crystal particles embedded in the polymer matrix, rather than dissolving dyes throughout a thick layer. This segmentation allows for controlled spatial distribution and enables construction of structured materials with varying refractive indices by arranging zeolite crystals in specific patterns or concentrations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements local quality by allowing different regions of the polymer matrix to contain varying concentrations or types of zeolite crystals with different refractive indices. This enables optimization of optical properties in specific areas while maintaining overall chromophore distribution, resolving the contradiction between quantity and structural complexity.
2Ease of manufacture
If dyes are dissolved in polymer and exposed to plasticizers and reactive species, then chromophores can be distributed in the polymer matrix, but stability is compromised and migration occurs during temperature variations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces zeolite crystals as an intermediary host structure that contains the chromophores within their microporous framework. This intermediary protects the chromophores from direct contact with harmful polymer components like plasticizers and reactive species, while still allowing integration into the polymer matrix for ease of manufacture.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a composite material system where chromophores are encapsulated within zeolite crystals, which are then dispersed in the polymer matrix. This composite structure combines the manufacturing advantages of polymer-based systems with the protective and stabilizing properties of zeolite frameworks, preventing chromophore migration and degradation.
3Use of energy by moving object
If total internal reflection is used for light concentration, then light can be concentrated by frequency shifting, but emission loss occurs because total internal reflection is limited by half the cylinder opening angle
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the optical parameters of the system by using zeolite crystals with specific refractive indices that differ from the polymer matrix. This parameter change modifies the critical angle for total internal reflection and enables better control over light emission and concentration, reducing emission losses while maintaining concentration efficiency.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution enables highly efficient and stable light concentration and emission, overcoming previous limitations and enabling new applications by providing a transparent, flexible, and efficient light distribution system.
Implementation Method 1
A luminescence concentrator, which we abbreviate to LC hereinafter, is a device which can concentrate both incident direct and diffuse light by frequency shifting and total internal reflection
Implementation Method 2
concentrate both incident direct and diffuse light by frequency shifting and total internal reflection
Implementation Method 3
An inverted luminescence concentrator, which we abbreviate to iLC hereinafter, is a device which traps both directed and undirected incident light by frequency shifting and total internal reflection in a transparent body and emits it, i.e. couples it out of the body, in a diffuse or directed manner in homogeneous distribution over a surface by means of luminescent emission
Data Source
AI summary
A luminescence concentrator (LK) may concentrate both incident direct and diffuse light by way of frequency shift and total internal reflection. It differs fundamentally from geometric concentrators. With sufficient geometric expansion of the collector plate, nearly arbitrarily high concentration can be achieved in the LK. A luminescence disperser is an apparatus which holds both directional and nondirectional incident light captive in a transparent body by way of frequency shift and total internal reflection and emits it diffusely or directionally uniformly distributed across an area by way of luminescence emission. The object of the invention is a method for the technical implementation of the LK and luminescence disperser, using zeolite crystals having a nanotube structure, into which the luminescent dyes are embedded such that they have antenna properties. Using the resulting novel structures, problems can be solved which made the technical use of LK impossible or at least considerably limited it. This results in completely novel usage possibilities for collecting and concentrating sun light and feeding it into photovoltaic systems, for converting it into electric and thermal energy in combined photovoltaic/hot water apparatuses, and for feeding it into fiber optic apparatuses.