Efficient solar energy harvesting via thermally stable tungsten-based nanostructured solar thermophotovoltaic systems
Author | Sumbel, Ijaz |
Author | Mehmood, Muhammad Qasim |
Author | Ahmed, Zubair |
Author | Aljaloud, Khaled A. |
Author | Alqahtani, Ali H. |
Author | Al- Adidi, Yosef |
Author | Hussain, Rifaqat |
Available date | 2024-08-08T04:05:42Z |
Publication Date | 2024-08-31 |
Publication Name | Materials Today Communications |
Identifier | http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.mtcomm.2024.109967 |
Abstract | Electromagnetic radiations are a key energy source, which, by deploying bandgap-engineered devices, are directed onto PV cells to maximize their utilization. In this regard, the Solar Thermophotovoltaic (STPV) systems are vital, consisting of an intermediate absorber-emitter assembly between sunlight and solar cells. A theoretical and computational demonstration of a highly thermally robust, angularly stable, polarization-insensitive, and compact tungsten-based broadband absorber and spectrally selective emitter in symmetric metal-insulator-metal (W-SiO2-W) configuration has been presented. The nanoscale absorber consists of four differently-sized cylinders forming a supercell, and the emitter is cylindrical. The absorber has been optimized over a range of operating temperatures and solar irradiances, manifesting a very high absorption for the visible region with an average of 98.09 % for 400 – 800 nm, exhibiting > 99 % absorption for a BW of 225 nm with a peak of 99.99 % at 674 nm. The emitter has been optimized with 99.72 % emissivity at the desired spectral location. The absorber’s intermediate efficiency is 99.91 % for 5000 suns at 800 °C, which is as high as 72.33 % at a target temperature of 3200 °C. This study aims to match a higher bandgap of 1.5 eV perovskite solar cells and realize higher efficiency than tandem solar cells. The solar cell efficiency is 42.39 %, which results in solar-to-electricity efficiency of 42.38 %, exceeding the Shockley-Queisser (SQ) limit. As a proof-of-concept using a simulation program SCAPS-1D, a perovskite solar cell is illuminated using a bandgap-matched photon, increasing its efficiency from 26.67 % to 45.79 %. Thus, the presented idea achieves cell efficiency beyond the SQ limit without employing complex tandem cells. |
Sponsor | The authors would like to acknowledge the support provided by Researchers Supporting Project number (RSP2024R474), King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. |
Language | en |
Publisher | Elsevier |
Subject | Solar thermophotovoltaic Solar energy harvesting Thermally stable Tungsten-based Nanostructured |
Type | Article |
Volume Number | 40 |
ESSN | 2352-4928 |
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Research of Qatar University Young Scientists Center [203 items ]