Contacts:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/alberto-picchi-027
Supervisor(s):
Prof. Andrea Pucci
Title of the PhD project:
Luminescent solar concentrators based on recycled poly(methyl methacrylate)
Abstract of the PhD project:
The recently established European Green Deal is giving a significant boost to the photovoltaic sector with projects concerning the development of modern and innovative solar cells, among which those based on luminescent solar concentrators (LSC) play an important role. LSCs are slabs of polymer doped with fluorescent molecules capable of absorbing solar radiation and concentrating it on the edge of the device. High-efficiency solar cells placed on the edge convert the light radiation into electricity. Such devices therefore allow the production of electricity at a lower cost and by means of semi-transparent systems easily integrated into cities. Among the host materials, fully amorphous, thermoplastic and high glass transition temperature polymer matrices are preferred, such as poly(methyl methacrylate), PMMA. PMMA is known to be completely recyclable. In fact, through a thermal process, the starting monomer methyl methacrylate (MMA) is made available again in a 99% pure form. This PhD project focuses on the production of high-efficiency LSC slabs from recycled MMA involving I&S, a company experienced in processing PMMA to create sustainable and fully recyclable materials. This totally innovative approach would then open a new "green" and socially responsible phase to produce LSC from large-scale recycling sources.
Publications:
• A. F. Bertozzi, A. Picchi, A. Pucci; Waterborne Acrylic Resin Containing Luminescent Eu3+ Pigments for Luminescent Solar Concentrators, Macromolecular Chemistry and Physics, 2023, 224, 2200392 https://doi.org/10.1002/macp.202200392
• M. Bartolini, C. Micheletti, A. Picchi, C. Coppola, A. Sinicropi, M. Di Donato, P. Foggi, A. Mordini, G. Reginato, A. Pucci, L. Zani, M. Calamante; Orange/Red Benzo[1,2-b:4,5-bʹ]dithiophene 1,1,5,5-Tetraoxide-Based Emitters for Luminescent Solar Concentrators: Effect of Structures on Fluorescence Properties and Device Performances, ACS Applied Energy Materials, 2023 6, 9, 4862-48 https://doi.org/10.1021/acsaem.3c00362
• A. Picchi, Q. Wang, F. Ventura, C. Micheletti, J. Heijkoop, F. Picchioni, I. Ciofini, C. Adamo, A. Pucci; Effect of Polymer Composition on the Optical Properties of New Aggregation-Induced Emission Fluorophore: A Combined Experimental and Computational Approach, Polymers, 2023, 15, 17, 3530 https://doi.org/10.3390/polym15173530
• A. Picchi, A. Pucci, M. Carlotti; Luminescent Solar Concentrators from Food Substances: A Safe and Simple Experiment to Approach Sunlight Energy Harvesting, Journal of Chemical Education, 2023, 100, 11, 4559–4566 https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jchemed.3c00709
• M. Meucci, S. Doria, A. M. Umair, D. Franchi, M. Fattori, M. Di Donato, A. Picchi, A. Pucci, M. Calamante, J. Catani; Efficient White-Light Visible Light Communication with Novel Optical Antennas Based on Luminescent Solar Concentrators, Journal of Lightwave Technology, 2023, 1-10 https://doi.org/10.1109/JLT.2023.3337040
• G. Goti, G. Reginato, C. Coppola, A. Dessì, D. Franchi, A. Mordini, A. Picchi, A. Pucci, A. Sinicropi, L. Zani, M. Calamante; Green Light‐Responsive D‐π‐A‐π‐D Quinoxaline Emitters for Luminescent Solar Concentrators: Potential Integration in Agrivoltaic Systems, European Journal of Organic Chemistry, 2024, e202400112 https://doi.org/10.1002/ejoc.202400112
• A. Picchi, I. Bettini, M. Ilarioni, M. Carlotti, A. Pucci; Assessing the performance of sustainable luminescent solar concentrators based on chemically recycled poly(methyl methacrylate), RSC Applied Polymers, 2024, 2, 624-633 https://doi.org/10.1039/D4LP00067F
• A. Picchi, K. Kantarod, M. Ilarioni, M. Carlotti, P. Leowanawat, A. Pucci; Sustainable luminescent solar concentrators with superior photodegradation resistance employing heptagon-embedded polycyclic aromatic dicarboximides as emitters, Materials Today Energy, 2024, 44, 101646 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mtener.2024.101646
Oral communications at conferences:
• Poly(cyclohexyl methacrylate-co-methyl methacrylate) as host polymer matrices for Luminescent Solar Concentrators; A. Polo, F. Ventura, J. Heijkoop, A. Picchioni, A. Pucci; AIM Macrogiovani, Florence, 16-17 June 2022
• Poly(cyclohexyl methacrylate-co-methyl methacrylate) as host polymer matrices for Luminescent Solar Concentrators; A. Polo, F. Ventura, J. Heijkoop, A. Picchioni, A. Pucci; IC-AIE-FA International Conference on Aggregation-Induced Emission, BITS Pilani, India, 16-18 December 2022
• Luminescent Solar Concentrators based on poly(methyl methacrylate) from recycled sources; SCI Enerchem – Chemistry for the Energy Transition; Fiesole (FI), 13-17 February 2023
• Sustainable luminescent solar concentrators with superior photodegradation resistance, A. Picchi, K. Kantarod, M. Ilarioni, M. Carlotti, P. Leowanawat, A. Pucci, AIM Macrogiovani 2024, Rimini, 12-13 June 2024
• Sustainable Luminescent Solar Concentrators from chemically recycled poly(methyl methacrylate), A. Picchi, M. Ilarioni, M. Carlotti, P. Leowanawat, A. Pucci, Chemistry for the Future 2024, Pisa, 3-5 July 2024
• Sustainable luminescent solar concentrators with superior photodegradation resistance, A. Picchi, K. Kantarod, M. Ilarioni, M. Carlotti, P. Leowanawat, A. Pucci, SCI 2024 – XXVIII Congresso Nazionale della Società Chimica Italiana, Milano, 26-30 August 2024
Poster communications at conferences:
• Poly(cyclohexyl methacrylate-co-methyl methacrylate) as host polymer matrices for Luminescent Solar Concentrators; A. Polo, F. Ventura, J. Heijkoop, A. Picchioni, A. Pucci; Chemistry for the Future 2022, Pisa, 29 June-1 July 2022
• Sustainable luminescent solar concentrators based on poly(methyl methacrylate) from chemical recycling, A. Picchi, M. Carlotti, A. Pucci, 9th EuChems Chemistry Congress, Dublin, Ireland, 7-11 July 2024
Other achievements:
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