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Enhanced photovoltaic energy conversion using thermally based spectral shaping

Author

Listed:
  • David M. Bierman

    (Device Research Laboratory, Massachusetts Institute of Technology)

  • Andrej Lenert

    (Device Research Laboratory, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    University of Michigan)

  • Walker R. Chan

    (Research Laboratory of Electronics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Institute for Soldier Nanotechnology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology)

  • Bikram Bhatia

    (Device Research Laboratory, Massachusetts Institute of Technology)

  • Ivan Celanović

    (Institute for Soldier Nanotechnology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology)

  • Marin Soljačić

    (Research Laboratory of Electronics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Institute for Soldier Nanotechnology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology)

  • Evelyn N. Wang

    (Device Research Laboratory, Massachusetts Institute of Technology)

Abstract

Solar thermophotovoltaic devices have the potential to enhance the performance of solar energy harvesting by converting broadband sunlight to narrow-band thermal radiation tuned for a photovoltaic cell. A direct comparison of the operation of a photovoltaic with and without a spectral converter is the most critical indicator of the promise of this technology. Here, we demonstrate enhanced device performance through the suppression of 80% of unconvertible photons by pairing a one-dimensional photonic crystal selective emitter with a tandem plasma–interference optical filter. We measured a solar-to-electrical conversion rate of 6.8%, exceeding the performance of the photovoltaic cell alone. The device operates more efficiently while reducing the heat generation rates in the photovoltaic cell by a factor of two at matching output power densities. We determined the theoretical limits, and discuss the implications of surpassing the Shockley–Queisser limit. Improving the performance of an unaltered photovoltaic cell provides an important framework for the design of high-efficiency solar energy converters.

Suggested Citation

  • David M. Bierman & Andrej Lenert & Walker R. Chan & Bikram Bhatia & Ivan Celanović & Marin Soljačić & Evelyn N. Wang, 2016. "Enhanced photovoltaic energy conversion using thermally based spectral shaping," Nature Energy, Nature, vol. 1(6), pages 1-7, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natene:v:1:y:2016:i:6:d:10.1038_nenergy.2016.68
    DOI: 10.1038/nenergy.2016.68
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Tian Zhou & Zhiqiang Sun & Saiwei Li & Huawei Liu & Danqing Yi, 2016. "Design and Optimization of Thermophotovoltaic System Cavity with Mirrors," Energies, MDPI, vol. 9(9), pages 1-11, September.
    2. Zhang, Ge & Cottrill, Anton L. & Koman, Volodymyr B. & Liu, Albert Tianxiang & Mahajan, Sayalee G. & Piephoff, D. Evan & Strano, Michael S., 2020. "Persistent, single-polarity energy harvesting from ambient thermal fluctuations using a thermal resonance device with thermal diodes," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 280(C).
    3. Fangqi Chen & Xiaojie Liu & Yanpei Tian & Jon Goldsby & Yi Zheng, 2022. "Refractory All-Ceramic Thermal Emitter for High-Temperature Near-Field Thermophotovoltaics," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(5), pages 1-9, March.
    4. Sy-Bor Wen & Arun Bhaskar, 2023. "The Shockley–Queisser Efficiency Limit of Solar Thermophotovoltaic (STPV) Cells Using Different Photovoltaic Cells and a Radiation Shield Considering the Étendue of Solar Radiation," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(20), pages 1-13, October.
    5. Gao, Mingyuan & Cong, Jianli & Xiao, Jieling & He, Qing & Li, Shoutai & Wang, Yuan & Yao, Ye & Chen, Rong & Wang, Ping, 2020. "Dynamic modeling and experimental investigation of self-powered sensor nodes for freight rail transport," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 257(C).
    6. Cottrill, Anton L. & Zhang, Ge & Liu, Albert Tianxiang & Bakytbekov, Azamat & Silmore, Kevin S. & Koman, Volodymyr B. & Shamim, Atif & Strano, Michael S., 2019. "Persistent energy harvesting in the harsh desert environment using a thermal resonance device: Design, testing, and analysis," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 235(C), pages 1514-1523.
    7. Lin, Chungwei & Wang, Bingnan & Teo, Koon Hoo & Zhang, Zhuomin, 2018. "A coherent description of thermal radiative devices and its application on the near-field negative electroluminescent cooling," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 147(C), pages 177-186.
    8. Zhang, Tao & Li, Yiteng & Chen, Yin & Feng, Xiaoyu & Zhu, Xingyu & Chen, Zhangxing & Yao, Jun & Zheng, Yongchun & Cai, Jianchao & Song, Hongqing & Sun, Shuyu, 2021. "Review on space energy," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 292(C).
    9. J. Enrique Vázquez-Lozano & Iñigo Liberal, 2023. "Incandescent temporal metamaterials," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-11, December.

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