Fabrication of thin-film thermoelectric generators with ball lenses for conversion of near-infrared solar light. (12th May 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Ito, Yoshitaka; Mizoshiri, Mizue; Mikami, Masashi; Kondo, Tasuku; Sakurai, Junpei; Hata, Seiichi
• Is Part Of: Japanese journal of applied physics. Volume 56:Number 6(2017)Supplement 1
• Publication Date: 2017-05-12
• Subjects: Physics -- Periodicals; 621.05
• DOI: 10.7567/JJAP.56.06GN06
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0021-4922

Abstract

Abstract: We designed and fabricated thin-film thermoelectric generators (TEGs) with ball lenses, which separated visible light and near-infrared (NIR) solar light using a chromatic aberration. The transmitted visible light was used as daylight and the NIR light was used for thermoelectric generation. Solar light was estimated to be separated into the visible light and NIR light by a ray tracing method. 92.7% of the visible light was used as daylight and 9.9% of the NIR light was used for thermoelectric generation. Then, the temperature difference of the pn junctions of the TEG surface was 0.71 K, determined by heat conduction analysis using a finite element method. The thin-film TEGs were fabricated using lithography and deposition processes. When the solar light (A.M. 1.5) was irradiated to the TEGs, the open-circuit voltage and maximum power were 4.5 V/m 2 and 51 µW/m 2, respectively. These TEGs are expected to be used as an energy supply for Internet of Things sensors.