Abstract A review of the development and an analysis of the principles of operation of Luminescent Solar Concentrator (LSC) devices is presented. State-of-the-art organic systems are described. The theory of volume-dispersed dye systems is discussed, and a new calculation describing the operation of thin-film dye solid solution systems on undoped substrates is presented. Experimental power conversion efficiencies ranging up to 4.5 per cent, air-mass one (AM1), for organic dye thin-film systems are reported, and limitations of organic devices including photodegradation and loss mechanisms are described. Inorganic luminescent species in glass systems are described and are noted to have low luminescent efficiencies at concentrations high enough to collect a substantial fraction of solar photons. Proposals to increase these efficiencies by establishing higher ligand-field symmetry of transition metalions in inorganic host systems are advanced. LSC cost estimates including balance-of-systems costs are discussed, and expectations for the development of stable, inexpensive and efficient LSC devices are justified.
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