Boosting Total Conversion Efficiency of Hybrid Photovoltaic–Thermal via a Spectral Splitter/Absorber Based on Lossy Periodic Structured Media. Issue 8 (22nd May 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Wu, Zuoxu; Wang, Jian; Yin, Li; Mao, Jun; Liu, Xingjun; Zhang, Qian; Cao, Feng
• Is Part Of: Solar RRL. Volume 6:Issue 8(2022)
• Page Start: n/a
• Page End: n/a
• Publication Date: 2022-05-22
• Subjects: hybrid photovoltaic-thermal -- quad-band splitting -- spectral splitter/absorber; Solar energy -- Periodicals; Photovoltaic power generation -- Periodicals; Solar energy -- Research -- Periodicals; Photovoltaic power generation -- Research -- Periodicals; Periodicals; 333.7923
• DOI: 10.1002/solr.202200283
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2367-198X

Abstract

Abstract : A spectral splitter plays a crucial role in the hybrid photovoltaic (PV)–thermal design for efficient solar energy harvesting. Herein, the lossy medium periodic structure of ITO/Si is utilized to construct a novel spectral splitter/absorber that selectively reflects the solar energy in PV band while absorbing the rest of solar energy. The as‐prepared spectral splitter/absorber demonstrates a weighted reflectance of 75.6% in the PV band, an absorptance of 83.1% in the photothermal (PT) band, as well as superior angular performance across a broad incident range of 0°–60°. The proposed hybrid photovoltaic–thermal (PVT) system assembled with the spectral splitter/absorber with 1100 nm long edge of the PV band enhances the total electrical efficiency to 26.5%, higher than that of the individual Si PV cell (19.1%), resulting from the precise modulation of solar spectrum via the splitter/absorber to realize efficient utilization of solar energy in different bands. The temperature of PV cells in a hybrid PVT system also declines by ≈25 °C compared with the single‐Si PV cell. The PV band can be easily shifted to match other narrow‐bandgap PV cells due to intrinsic properties of near‐zero k of both ITO and Si at near‐infrared wavelength range and the large difference in n between them. Abstract : A novel spectral splitter/absorber with quad‐band spectral splitting is realized via the lossy medium periodic structure of ITO/Si. The proposed photovoltaic–thermal system using a spectral splitter/absorber and a Si solar cell enhances the total electrical efficiency to 26.5%, ascribed to the efficient utilization of full‐spectrum solar energy.