Next-Generation Solar-Powering: Photonic Strategies for Earth and Space Systems

Abstract

Escalating environmental and energy supply concerns, coupled with an increasing interest in space exploration, are driving the development of advanced energy harvesting systems and the adoption of cutting-edge photovoltaic (PV) technologies. Photonics allows precise light manipulation in a multitude of ways, empowering PV with the means to tackle the multifaceted challenges inherent to the harsh space environment, with great potential to concomitantly spin off to on-Earth systems, prioritizing efficiency and reliability. This review thus synthesizes the key insights from the latest experimental and simulation R&D outcomes to inform the design and implementation of advanced photonic strategies for various PV applications. The state-of-the-art performance and foreground of photonic-managed thick- (single-junction crystalline silicon, c-Si, and perovskite-on-silicon tandem) and thin-film (hydrogenated amorphous silicon, a-Si:H, and perovskite) PV devices are assessed by comparison with theoretical ideal light-trapping scenarios (single-, double-pass, and Lambertian absorption models), looking also at the potential of photonic coolers as an emergent platform for effective thermal management. Finally, this work examines novel photonic approaches for spectrum modification, emphasizing the relevance of illumination-tailoring for outer space systems.