Color Prediction and Visual Performance Optimization of Luminescent Solar Concentrators Via Monte Carlo Ray Tracing

Luminescent solar concentrators (LSCs) offer a promising route for integrating photovoltaic technologies into buildings, providing both energy harvesting and architectural aesthetics. While extensive studies have focused on enhancing optical efficiency, visual properties such as color and transparency have received limited attention. This study presents a Monte Carlo ray-tracing approach to predict the color characteristics of LSCs incorporating mixed fluorescent dyes (LR305 and LY083). Simulated color coordinates, spectral transmittance, and color rendering index (CRI) were used to assess visual performance under daylight (AM1.5). A 40 ppm mixed-dye LSC achieved optimal trade-offs, with the predictive value CRI of 73 and transmittance above 58%, satisfying basic visual comfort requirements. A large-scale poly methyl methacrylate (PMMA)-based LSC panel was fabricated based on the simulation, and its optical properties were experimentally validated. The measured color coordinates and CRI (73.7) exhibited agreement with the predicted values. These results demonstrate that the visual performance of LSCs can be accurately predicted and optimized, enabling their integration into energy-efficient architectural applications.