Multistate Luminescent Solar Concentrator “Smart” Windows

A supertwist liquid crystalline luminescent solar concentrator (LSC) “smart” window is fabricated which can be switched electrically between three states: one designed for increased light absorption and electrical generation (the “dark” state), one for transparency (the “light” state), and one for enhanced haziness (“scattering” state). In the scattering state, the absorption and edge emissions decrease while the face emissions are enhanced. This new LSC “smart” window state can find application as a privacy feature in housing, but could also allow for a new “smart” window application as a diffuse glazing to increase plant growth in horticultural applications. A three‐state luminescent solar concentrator “smart” window is described which, along with the normal dark and light states, introduces a scattering state. This additional hazy state could find use in greenhouse horticulture applications as well as acting as a “privacy” state window capable of generating electricity via edge‐attached photovoltaic cells.