Full-spectrum solar energy allocation for efficient space-based photovoltaic–thermoelectric energy conversion

Hangbin Zheng; Zhonghui Zhu; Xianglei Liu

doi:10.1117/1.JPE.9.032715

8 March 2019 Full-spectrum solar energy allocation for efficient space-based photovoltaic–thermoelectric energy conversion

Hangbin Zheng, Zhonghui Zhu, Xianglei Liu

Author Affiliations +

Journal of Photonics for Energy, Vol. 9, Issue 3, 032715 (March 2019). https://doi.org/10.1117/1.JPE.9.032715

Abstract

A full-spectrum solar energy allocation design based on nanopattern-free multilayered coatings (MLCs) is proposed to boost photovoltaic–thermoelectric (PV–TE) energy conversion efficiency. Above- and below-bandgap photons are sent to gallium arsenide (GaAs) cells and absorptive layers lying between GaAs cells and TE devices, respectively. A low-averaged reflectance of ∼7.9 % for full-spectrum solar energy under one-Sun AM0 conditions is achieved due to multiple interferences and graded refraction index. A high-averaged absorptance of ∼93.62 % and ∼91.17 % for below- and above-bandgap photons are obtained with the assistance of impedance matching enabled by MLCs. Performances are shown to be also insensitive to incident angles, polarization states, and each layer’s thickness. We pave the way to design efficient space-based PV–TE energy conversion systems.

Citation Download Citation

Hangbin Zheng, Zhonghui Zhu, and Xianglei Liu "Full-spectrum solar energy allocation for efficient space-based photovoltaic–thermoelectric energy conversion," Journal of Photonics for Energy 9(3), 032715 (8 March 2019). https://doi.org/10.1117/1.JPE.9.032715

Received: 28 December 2018; Accepted: 19 February 2019; Published: 8 March 2019

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