Transforming Volcanic Rocks from Lichadonisia Island, Greece, into Advanced Luminescent Nanostructures for Potential Solar Concentrator Applications

Abstract

As the demand for environmentally sustainable materials rises, particularly in applications like luminescent solar concentrators (LSCs) for urban environments, this study investigates the potential of volcanic rock-derived nanostructures from Lichadonisia Island, Greece. These nanostructures are designed to absorb sunlight and convert it to longer wavelengths efficiently. By grinding volcanic rocks and inducing nanostructure formation, followed by enrichment with FeO, enhanced luminescent properties were achieved. Comprehensive characterization using X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FESEM), and Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (EDS) confirmed the crystalline nature of the volcanic rocks and the presence of FeO in an amorphous state. FTIR analysis revealed characteristic peaks of volcanic rocks and additional vibrations from FeO, as well as modifications of Si-O-Al vibrations. FESEM-EDS observations indicated plate-like nanoparticle structures with FeO nanoforms on modified surfaces. Luminescence properties, assessed via Photoluminescence Excitation-Emission (PLE-PL) spectroscopy, showed that while pure nanostructures exhibited luminescence at 470 nm, FeO-enriched nanostructures demonstrated enhanced intensity and an additional emission peak at approximately 425 nm. These findings suggest that volcanic rock-derived nanostructures, particularly when enriched with FeO, offer significant potential for use in eco-friendly LSCs.