Optimizing Light Extraction in Luminescent Solar Concentrators for Horticulture Applications via Genetic Algorithm-Based Reconstruction

Horticulture luminescent solar concentrators (HLSCs) have demonstrated their ability to accomplish spectral conversion and enhance light extraction. However, conventional HLSCs with an extruded uniform micro-cone array on the bottom surface exhibit relatively poor light extraction due to non-isotropic scattering of photons. In this study, we propose a novel HLSC design inspired by nature, which incorporates an extruded disordered micro-cone array that is optimised using the genetic algorithm. By employing Monte-Carlo ray tracing, we estimate a maximum normalised external quantum efficiency of 52.43% for our design, corresponding to a 16.4% improvement compared to a conventional HLSC with an extruded uniform micro-cone array on the bottom surface. Our disordered micro-cone array patterned surface successfully address the light trapping issues in uniform textured HLSCs, laying a solid groundwork for practical applications.