The project is aimed to the development of innovative photovoltaic panels with high efficiency activated with Carbon Dots. It focus on the the synthesis and optimization of nanocomposite materials to be integrated in a silicon based photovoltaic device. The nanocomposites will be based on a polymeric matrix, such as polyethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA), a polymer that is already used to encapsulate materials in photovoltaic panels, that will be activated with luminescent carbon-based materials (Carbon Dots, CDs). These CDs will be able to convert radiation from the solar ultraviolet spectrum, that is wasted by the silicon used in the common photovoltaic cells, into radiation in the visible range, absorbable by silicon and therefore useful for the production of electricity. This conversion is due to absorption in the UV range by the CDs and immediate emission in the visible range, typically in the green region (downshifting process). The CDs are produced by a simple procedure exploiting a solvothermal synthesis, and they have high stability and strong photoluminescence. Preliminary results of CDs nanocomposites have already shown excellent compatibility with photovoltaic panels and that they can improve the overall efficiency of such devices while maintaining a low cost and ease of synthesis. Moreover, the biocompatibility of the CDs will be evaluated by in-vitro and in-vivo biological tests.
