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Thermally enhanced photoluminescence for heat harvesting in photovoltaics

Author

Listed:
  • Assaf Manor

    (Russell Berrie Nanotechnology Institute, Technion—Israel Institute of Technology)

  • Nimrod Kruger

    (Grand Energy Program, Technion—Israel Institute of Technology)

  • Tamilarasan Sabapathy

    (Technion—Israel Institute of Technology)

  • Carmel Rotschild

    (Russell Berrie Nanotechnology Institute, Technion—Israel Institute of Technology
    Grand Energy Program, Technion—Israel Institute of Technology
    Technion—Israel Institute of Technology)

Abstract

The maximal Shockley–Queisser efficiency limit of 41% for single-junction photovoltaics is primarily caused by heat dissipation following energetic-photon absorption. Solar-thermophotovoltaics concepts attempt to harvest this heat loss, but the required high temperatures (T>2,000 K) hinder device realization. Conversely, we have recently demonstrated how thermally enhanced photoluminescence is an efficient optical heat-pump that operates in comparably low temperatures. Here we theoretically and experimentally demonstrate such a thermally enhanced photoluminescence based solar-energy converter. Here heat is harvested by a low bandgap photoluminescent absorber that emits thermally enhanced photoluminescence towards a higher bandgap photovoltaic cell, resulting in a maximum theoretical efficiency of 70% at a temperature of 1,140 K. We experimentally demonstrate the key feature of sub-bandgap photon thermal upconversion with an efficiency of 1.4% at only 600 K. Experiments on white light excitation of a tailored Cr:Nd:Yb glass absorber suggest that conversion efficiencies as high as 48% at 1,500 K are in reach.

Suggested Citation

  • Assaf Manor & Nimrod Kruger & Tamilarasan Sabapathy & Carmel Rotschild, 2016. "Thermally enhanced photoluminescence for heat harvesting in photovoltaics," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 7(1), pages 1-8, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:7:y:2016:i:1:d:10.1038_ncomms13167
    DOI: 10.1038/ncomms13167
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