Zhaoning Song, Suneth C. Watthage, A. Phillips, Geethika K. Liyanage, R. Khanal, Brandon L. Tompkins, R. Ellingson, M. Heben
Solution processed thin film photovoltaic devices incorporating organohalide perovskites have progressed rapidly in recent years and achieved energy conversion efficiencies greater than 20%. However, an important issue limiting their commercialization is that device efficiencies often drop within the first few hundred hours of operation. To explore the origin of the device degradation and failure in perovskite solar cells, we investigated the spatial uniformity of current collection at different stages of aging using two-dimensional laser beam induced current (LBIC) mapping. We validated that the local decomposition of the perovskite material is likely due to interactions with moisture in the air by comparing photocurrent collection in perovskite devices that were maintained in different controlled environments. We show that the addition of a poly(methyl methacrylate)/single-wall carbon nanotube (PMMA/SWCNT) encapsulation layer prevents degradation of the device in moist air. This suggests a route toward perovskite solar cells with improved operational stability and moisture resistance.
{"title":"Investigation of degradation mechanisms of perovskite-based photovoltaic devices using laser beam induced current mapping","authors":"Zhaoning Song, Suneth C. Watthage, A. Phillips, Geethika K. Liyanage, R. Khanal, Brandon L. Tompkins, R. Ellingson, M. Heben","doi":"10.1117/12.2195789","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2195789","url":null,"abstract":"Solution processed thin film photovoltaic devices incorporating organohalide perovskites have progressed rapidly in recent years and achieved energy conversion efficiencies greater than 20%. However, an important issue limiting their commercialization is that device efficiencies often drop within the first few hundred hours of operation. To explore the origin of the device degradation and failure in perovskite solar cells, we investigated the spatial uniformity of current collection at different stages of aging using two-dimensional laser beam induced current (LBIC) mapping. We validated that the local decomposition of the perovskite material is likely due to interactions with moisture in the air by comparing photocurrent collection in perovskite devices that were maintained in different controlled environments. We show that the addition of a poly(methyl methacrylate)/single-wall carbon nanotube (PMMA/SWCNT) encapsulation layer prevents degradation of the device in moist air. This suggests a route toward perovskite solar cells with improved operational stability and moisture resistance.","PeriodicalId":142821,"journal":{"name":"SPIE Optics + Photonics for Sustainable Energy","volume":"56 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2015-09-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"131342376","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Light-induced changes to the current-voltage characteristic of thin-film photovoltaic modules (i.e. light-soaking effects) frustrate the repeatable measurement of their operating power. We describe best practices for mitigating, or stabilizing, light-soaking effects for both CdTe and CIGS modules to enable robust, repeatable, and relevant power measurements. We motivate the practices by detailing how modules react to changes in different stabilization methods. We also describe and demonstrate a method for validating alternative stabilization procedures, such as those relying on forward bias in the dark. Reliable measurements of module power are critical for qualification testing, reliability testing, and power rating.
{"title":"Robust measurement of thin-film photovoltaic modules exhibiting light-induced transients","authors":"M. Deceglie, T. Silverman, B. Marion, S. Kurtz","doi":"10.1117/12.2188827","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2188827","url":null,"abstract":"Light-induced changes to the current-voltage characteristic of thin-film photovoltaic modules (i.e. light-soaking effects) frustrate the repeatable measurement of their operating power. We describe best practices for mitigating, or stabilizing, light-soaking effects for both CdTe and CIGS modules to enable robust, repeatable, and relevant power measurements. We motivate the practices by detailing how modules react to changes in different stabilization methods. We also describe and demonstrate a method for validating alternative stabilization procedures, such as those relying on forward bias in the dark. Reliable measurements of module power are critical for qualification testing, reliability testing, and power rating.","PeriodicalId":142821,"journal":{"name":"SPIE Optics + Photonics for Sustainable Energy","volume":"111 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2015-09-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"116075418","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Zhaozhao Zhu, T. Mankowski, K. Balakrishnan, A. S. Shikoh, F. Touati, M. Benammar, M. Mansuripur, C. Falco
Zinc oxide and aluminum/gallium-doped zinc oxide thin films were deposited via sol-gel spin-coating technique. Employing plasma treatment as alternative to post thermal annealing, we found that the morphologies of these thin films have changed and the sheet resistances have been significantly enhanced. These plasma-treated thin films also show very good optical properties, with transmittance above 90% averaged over the visible wavelength range. Our best aluminum/gallium-doped zinc oxide thin films exhibit sheet resistances (Rs) of ~ 200 Ω/sq and ~ 150 Ω/sq, respectively.
{"title":"Sol-gel deposition and plasma treatment of intrinsic, aluminum-doped, and gallium-doped zinc oxide thin films as transparent conductive electrodes","authors":"Zhaozhao Zhu, T. Mankowski, K. Balakrishnan, A. S. Shikoh, F. Touati, M. Benammar, M. Mansuripur, C. Falco","doi":"10.1117/12.2186144","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2186144","url":null,"abstract":"Zinc oxide and aluminum/gallium-doped zinc oxide thin films were deposited via sol-gel spin-coating technique. Employing plasma treatment as alternative to post thermal annealing, we found that the morphologies of these thin films have changed and the sheet resistances have been significantly enhanced. These plasma-treated thin films also show very good optical properties, with transmittance above 90% averaged over the visible wavelength range. Our best aluminum/gallium-doped zinc oxide thin films exhibit sheet resistances (Rs) of ~ 200 Ω/sq and ~ 150 Ω/sq, respectively.","PeriodicalId":142821,"journal":{"name":"SPIE Optics + Photonics for Sustainable Energy","volume":"28 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2015-09-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"124769329","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Yi-sheng Liu, P. Glans, T. Arthur, Fuminori Mizuno, Chinglin Chang, W. Pong, Jinghua Guo
Many important energy systems are based on the complexity of material architecture, chemistry and interactions among constituents within. To understand and thus ultimately control the energy applications calls for in-situ/operando characterization tools. Recently, we have developed the in-situ/operando soft X-ray spectroscopic systems for the studies of catalytic and electrochemical reactions, and reveal how to overcome the challenge that soft X-rays cannot easily peek into the high-pressure catalytic or liquid electrochemical reactions. The unique design of in-situ/operando soft X-ray spectroscopy instrumentation and fabrication principle and one example are presented.
{"title":"In-situ/operando soft x-ray spectroscopy characterization of interfacial phenomena in energy materials and devices","authors":"Yi-sheng Liu, P. Glans, T. Arthur, Fuminori Mizuno, Chinglin Chang, W. Pong, Jinghua Guo","doi":"10.1117/12.2187742","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2187742","url":null,"abstract":"Many important energy systems are based on the complexity of material architecture, chemistry and interactions among constituents within. To understand and thus ultimately control the energy applications calls for in-situ/operando characterization tools. Recently, we have developed the in-situ/operando soft X-ray spectroscopic systems for the studies of catalytic and electrochemical reactions, and reveal how to overcome the challenge that soft X-rays cannot easily peek into the high-pressure catalytic or liquid electrochemical reactions. The unique design of in-situ/operando soft X-ray spectroscopy instrumentation and fabrication principle and one example are presented.","PeriodicalId":142821,"journal":{"name":"SPIE Optics + Photonics for Sustainable Energy","volume":"17 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2015-09-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"128166944","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
F. Himpsel, P. Cook, I. Zegkinoglou, I. Boukahil, R. Qiao, W. Yang, S. Pemmaraju, D. Prendergast, C. Kronawitter, M. Kibria, Z. Mi, L. Vayssieres
X-rays from synchrotron radiation enable incisive spectroscopic techniques which speed up the discovery of new materials for photovoltaics and photoelectrochemistry. A particularly useful method is X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS), which probes empty electronic states. XAS is element- and bond-specific, with the additional capability of determining the bond orientation. Close feedback from density functional calculations makes it possible to discover and exploit systematic trends in the electronic properties. Case studies are presented, such as solar cells that combine an absorber with an electron donor and an acceptor in one molecular complex and nanowire arrays serving as photoanodes for water splitting. In addition to the energy levels the lifetimes of the charge carriers play an essential role in device performance. A new generation of laser-like X-ray sources will make it possible to follow the fate of excited charge carriers traveling across a molecular complex or through a device structure in real time.
{"title":"Synchrotron-based spectroscopy for solar energy conversion","authors":"F. Himpsel, P. Cook, I. Zegkinoglou, I. Boukahil, R. Qiao, W. Yang, S. Pemmaraju, D. Prendergast, C. Kronawitter, M. Kibria, Z. Mi, L. Vayssieres","doi":"10.1117/12.2187038","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2187038","url":null,"abstract":"X-rays from synchrotron radiation enable incisive spectroscopic techniques which speed up the discovery of new materials for photovoltaics and photoelectrochemistry. A particularly useful method is X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS), which probes empty electronic states. XAS is element- and bond-specific, with the additional capability of determining the bond orientation. Close feedback from density functional calculations makes it possible to discover and exploit systematic trends in the electronic properties. Case studies are presented, such as solar cells that combine an absorber with an electron donor and an acceptor in one molecular complex and nanowire arrays serving as photoanodes for water splitting. In addition to the energy levels the lifetimes of the charge carriers play an essential role in device performance. A new generation of laser-like X-ray sources will make it possible to follow the fate of excited charge carriers traveling across a molecular complex or through a device structure in real time.","PeriodicalId":142821,"journal":{"name":"SPIE Optics + Photonics for Sustainable Energy","volume":"83 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2015-09-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"128867278","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
I. Heras, E. Guillén, M. Krause, A. Pardo, J. Endrino, R. Escobar Galindo
The design of an efficient and stable solar selective coating for Concentrating Solar Power central receivers requires a complex study of the materials candidates that compose the coating. Carbon-transition metal nanocomposites were studied in this work as absorber materials because they show appropriate optical properties with high absorption in the solar region and low thermal emittance in the infrared. Furthermore metal carbides are thermal and mechanical stable in air at high temperatures. In this work a solar selective coating was grown by a dual source filtered cathodic vacuum arc. The complete stack consists on an infrared reflection layer, an absorber layer of carbon-zirconium carbide nanocomposites and an antireflection layer. The aim of this research is optimize the absorber layer and for that, the metal content was controlled by adjusting the pulse ratio between the two arc sources. The elemental composition was determined by Ion Beam Analysis, X-Ray diffraction measurements show the crystal structure and the optical properties were characterized by spectroscopic ellipsometry measurements. The reflectance spectra of the complete selective coating were simulated with the optical software CODE. Bruggeman effective medium approximation was employed to average the dielectric functions of the two components which constitute the nanocomposite in the absorber layer. The optimized coating exhibited a solar absorptance of 95.41% and thermal emittance of 3.5% for 400°C. The simulated results were validated with a deposited multilayer selective coating.
{"title":"Solar selective coatings based on carbon: transition metal nanocomposites","authors":"I. Heras, E. Guillén, M. Krause, A. Pardo, J. Endrino, R. Escobar Galindo","doi":"10.1117/12.2189515","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2189515","url":null,"abstract":"The design of an efficient and stable solar selective coating for Concentrating Solar Power central receivers requires a complex study of the materials candidates that compose the coating. Carbon-transition metal nanocomposites were studied in this work as absorber materials because they show appropriate optical properties with high absorption in the solar region and low thermal emittance in the infrared. Furthermore metal carbides are thermal and mechanical stable in air at high temperatures. In this work a solar selective coating was grown by a dual source filtered cathodic vacuum arc. The complete stack consists on an infrared reflection layer, an absorber layer of carbon-zirconium carbide nanocomposites and an antireflection layer. The aim of this research is optimize the absorber layer and for that, the metal content was controlled by adjusting the pulse ratio between the two arc sources. The elemental composition was determined by Ion Beam Analysis, X-Ray diffraction measurements show the crystal structure and the optical properties were characterized by spectroscopic ellipsometry measurements. The reflectance spectra of the complete selective coating were simulated with the optical software CODE. Bruggeman effective medium approximation was employed to average the dielectric functions of the two components which constitute the nanocomposite in the absorber layer. The optimized coating exhibited a solar absorptance of 95.41% and thermal emittance of 3.5% for 400°C. The simulated results were validated with a deposited multilayer selective coating.","PeriodicalId":142821,"journal":{"name":"SPIE Optics + Photonics for Sustainable Energy","volume":"23 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2015-09-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"130534492","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
A. Abou-Elnour, Asma Salem, Salma M. Ghanem, Ismail Amin Ali
In the present work, a wireless two dimensional microcontroller based sun tracker is designed and implemented. The proposed system has three main components namely the controlling unit, the wireless communication system, and the monitoring and recording unit. Controlling features are fully obtained in the present system using an efficient microcontroller based programming environment. Design equations, which are implemented, allow the usage of the system anywhere anytime without extra hardware tracking circuits. The sun tracker continuously calculates the photovoltaic module’s tilt and azimuth angles by using accurate sun movement equations. The system generates the motors controlling signals to allocate the photovoltaic module to receive the maximize amount of solar energy on its surface from sunrise to sunset. For monitoring purpose the output of the movable photovoltaic module and from a south faced fixed module are wirelessly transmitted to the local monitoring system where the data are recorded, analyzed, and published. The proposed system is successfully implemented and tested for long periods under realistic operating conditions and the obtained positioning results are in excellent agreement with the theoretical ones.
{"title":"Concentrating PV module output power using a wireless microcontroller based automatic sun tracker","authors":"A. Abou-Elnour, Asma Salem, Salma M. Ghanem, Ismail Amin Ali","doi":"10.1117/12.2186942","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2186942","url":null,"abstract":"In the present work, a wireless two dimensional microcontroller based sun tracker is designed and implemented. The proposed system has three main components namely the controlling unit, the wireless communication system, and the monitoring and recording unit. Controlling features are fully obtained in the present system using an efficient microcontroller based programming environment. Design equations, which are implemented, allow the usage of the system anywhere anytime without extra hardware tracking circuits. The sun tracker continuously calculates the photovoltaic module’s tilt and azimuth angles by using accurate sun movement equations. The system generates the motors controlling signals to allocate the photovoltaic module to receive the maximize amount of solar energy on its surface from sunrise to sunset. For monitoring purpose the output of the movable photovoltaic module and from a south faced fixed module are wirelessly transmitted to the local monitoring system where the data are recorded, analyzed, and published. The proposed system is successfully implemented and tested for long periods under realistic operating conditions and the obtained positioning results are in excellent agreement with the theoretical ones.","PeriodicalId":142821,"journal":{"name":"SPIE Optics + Photonics for Sustainable Energy","volume":"19 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2015-09-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"123517896","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Concentrating and spectrum splitting photovoltaic (PV) modules have a limited acceptance angle and thus suffer from optical loss under off-axis illumination. This loss manifests itself as a substantial reduction in energy yield in locations where a significant portion of insulation is diffuse. In this work, a spectrum splitting PV system is designed to efficiently collect and convert light in a range of illumination conditions. The system uses a holographic lens to concentrate shortwavelength light onto a smaller, more expensive indium gallium phosphide (InGaP) PV cell. The high efficiency PV cell near the axis is surrounded with silicon (Si), a less expensive material that collects a broader portion of the solar spectrum. Under direct illumination, the device achieves increased conversion efficiency from spectrum splitting. Under diffuse illumination, the device collects light with efficiency comparable to a flat-panel Si module. Design of the holographic lens is discussed. Optical efficiency and power output of the module under a range of illumination conditions from direct to diffuse are simulated with non-sequential raytracing software. Using direct and diffuse Typical Metrological Year (TMY3) irradiance measurements, annual energy yield of the module is calculated for several installation sites. Energy yield of the spectrum splitting module is compared to that of a full flat-panel Si reference module.
{"title":"Holographic lens spectrum splitting photovoltaic system for increased diffuse collection and annual energy yield","authors":"S. Vorndran, Yuechen Wu, Silvana Ayala, R. Kostuk","doi":"10.1117/12.2187124","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2187124","url":null,"abstract":"Concentrating and spectrum splitting photovoltaic (PV) modules have a limited acceptance angle and thus suffer from optical loss under off-axis illumination. This loss manifests itself as a substantial reduction in energy yield in locations where a significant portion of insulation is diffuse. In this work, a spectrum splitting PV system is designed to efficiently collect and convert light in a range of illumination conditions. The system uses a holographic lens to concentrate shortwavelength light onto a smaller, more expensive indium gallium phosphide (InGaP) PV cell. The high efficiency PV cell near the axis is surrounded with silicon (Si), a less expensive material that collects a broader portion of the solar spectrum. Under direct illumination, the device achieves increased conversion efficiency from spectrum splitting. Under diffuse illumination, the device collects light with efficiency comparable to a flat-panel Si module. Design of the holographic lens is discussed. Optical efficiency and power output of the module under a range of illumination conditions from direct to diffuse are simulated with non-sequential raytracing software. Using direct and diffuse Typical Metrological Year (TMY3) irradiance measurements, annual energy yield of the module is calculated for several installation sites. Energy yield of the spectrum splitting module is compared to that of a full flat-panel Si reference module.","PeriodicalId":142821,"journal":{"name":"SPIE Optics + Photonics for Sustainable Energy","volume":"124 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2015-09-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"128145425","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
A hybrid photocatalyst consisting of a catalytic Ru complex and polymeric carbon nitride (band gap, 2.7 eV) was capable of reducing CO2 into HCOOH with ~80% selectivity under visible light (λ > 420 nm) in the presence of a suitable electron donor. Introduction of mesoporosity into the graphitic carbon nitride structure to increase the specific surface area was essential to enhancing the activity. However, higher surface area (in other words, lower crystallinity) that originated from excessively introduced mesopores had a negative impact on activity. Promoting electron injection from carbon nitride to the catalytic Ru unit as well as strengthening the electronic interactions between the two units improved the activity. Under the optimal condition, a turnover number (TON, with respect to the Ru complex used) greater than 1000 and an apparent quantum yield of 5.7% (at 400 nm) were obtained, which are the greatest among heterogeneous photocatalysts for visible-light CO2 reduction ever reported.
{"title":"Metal-complex/semiconductor hybrids for carbon dioxide fixation","authors":"K. Maeda, R. Kuriki, Keita Sekizawa, O. Ishitani","doi":"10.1117/12.2187341","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2187341","url":null,"abstract":"A hybrid photocatalyst consisting of a catalytic Ru complex and polymeric carbon nitride (band gap, 2.7 eV) was capable of reducing CO2 into HCOOH with ~80% selectivity under visible light (λ > 420 nm) in the presence of a suitable electron donor. Introduction of mesoporosity into the graphitic carbon nitride structure to increase the specific surface area was essential to enhancing the activity. However, higher surface area (in other words, lower crystallinity) that originated from excessively introduced mesopores had a negative impact on activity. Promoting electron injection from carbon nitride to the catalytic Ru unit as well as strengthening the electronic interactions between the two units improved the activity. Under the optimal condition, a turnover number (TON, with respect to the Ru complex used) greater than 1000 and an apparent quantum yield of 5.7% (at 400 nm) were obtained, which are the greatest among heterogeneous photocatalysts for visible-light CO2 reduction ever reported.","PeriodicalId":142821,"journal":{"name":"SPIE Optics + Photonics for Sustainable Energy","volume":"23 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2015-09-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"117027840","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Solar concentrating photovoltaic systems have the potential to reduce total cost and achieve higher efficiency by replacing a large solar cell surface with cheaper optical devices, in which a large area of light can be efficiently collected and concentrated to a small optical device and guided to an array of co-located photovoltaic cells with high optical efficiency. We present an experimental demonstration for a lens-to-channel waveguide solar concentrator using a commercially-available Fresnel lens array. In this work, a 60 mm by 60 mm lens to channel waveguide system is used for demonstration. A separate, aluminum-coated 45° coupler is fabricated and attached to the waveguide to improve the coupling efficiency and to avoid any inherent decoupling loss. The fabrication details and component performance of the prototype device are discussed.
{"title":"Demonstration of an intermediate-scale lens-to-channel waveguide solar concentrator","authors":"R. Huang, Y. Liu, C. Madsen","doi":"10.1117/12.2188697","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2188697","url":null,"abstract":"Solar concentrating photovoltaic systems have the potential to reduce total cost and achieve higher efficiency by replacing a large solar cell surface with cheaper optical devices, in which a large area of light can be efficiently collected and concentrated to a small optical device and guided to an array of co-located photovoltaic cells with high optical efficiency. We present an experimental demonstration for a lens-to-channel waveguide solar concentrator using a commercially-available Fresnel lens array. In this work, a 60 mm by 60 mm lens to channel waveguide system is used for demonstration. A separate, aluminum-coated 45° coupler is fabricated and attached to the waveguide to improve the coupling efficiency and to avoid any inherent decoupling loss. The fabrication details and component performance of the prototype device are discussed.","PeriodicalId":142821,"journal":{"name":"SPIE Optics + Photonics for Sustainable Energy","volume":"13 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2015-09-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"126140054","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}