Simulation and partial prototyping of an eight‐junction holographic spectrum‐splitting photovoltaic module
Abstract Spectrum‐splitting photovoltaics incorporate optical elements to separate sunlight into frequency bands, which can be targeted at solar cells with bandgaps optimized for each sub‐band. Here, we present the design of a holographic diffraction grating‐based spectrum‐splitting photovoltaic mod...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Wiley
2019-12-01
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| Series: | Energy Science & Engineering |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1002/ese3.445 |
| _version_ | 1818112314363084800 |
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| author | Sunita Darbe Matthew D. Escarra Emily C. Warmann Harry A. Atwater |
| author_facet | Sunita Darbe Matthew D. Escarra Emily C. Warmann Harry A. Atwater |
| author_sort | Sunita Darbe |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Spectrum‐splitting photovoltaics incorporate optical elements to separate sunlight into frequency bands, which can be targeted at solar cells with bandgaps optimized for each sub‐band. Here, we present the design of a holographic diffraction grating‐based spectrum‐splitting photovoltaic module integrating eight III‐V compound semiconductor cells as four dual‐junction tandems. Four stacks of simple sinusoidal volume phase holographic diffraction gratings each simultaneously split and concentrate sunlight onto cells with bandgaps spanning the solar spectrum. The high‐efficiency cells get an additional performance boost from concentration incorporated using a single or a compound trough concentrator, providing up to 380X total concentration. Cell bandgap optimization incorporated an experimentally derived bandgap‐dependent external radiative efficiency function. Simulations show 33.2% module conversion efficiency is achievable. One grating stack is experimentally fabricated and characterized. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-11T03:16:58Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-0681932eb99b4357a95b784a57e0d2e9 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2050-0505 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-11T03:16:58Z |
| publishDate | 2019-12-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Energy Science & Engineering |
| spelling | doaj.art-0681932eb99b4357a95b784a57e0d2e92022-12-22T01:22:44ZengWileyEnergy Science & Engineering2050-05052019-12-01762572258410.1002/ese3.445Simulation and partial prototyping of an eight‐junction holographic spectrum‐splitting photovoltaic moduleSunita Darbe0Matthew D. Escarra1Emily C. Warmann2Harry A. Atwater3Thomas J. Watson Laboratories of Applied Physics California Institute of Technology Pasadena CA USAThomas J. Watson Laboratories of Applied Physics California Institute of Technology Pasadena CA USAThomas J. Watson Laboratories of Applied Physics California Institute of Technology Pasadena CA USAThomas J. Watson Laboratories of Applied Physics California Institute of Technology Pasadena CA USAAbstract Spectrum‐splitting photovoltaics incorporate optical elements to separate sunlight into frequency bands, which can be targeted at solar cells with bandgaps optimized for each sub‐band. Here, we present the design of a holographic diffraction grating‐based spectrum‐splitting photovoltaic module integrating eight III‐V compound semiconductor cells as four dual‐junction tandems. Four stacks of simple sinusoidal volume phase holographic diffraction gratings each simultaneously split and concentrate sunlight onto cells with bandgaps spanning the solar spectrum. The high‐efficiency cells get an additional performance boost from concentration incorporated using a single or a compound trough concentrator, providing up to 380X total concentration. Cell bandgap optimization incorporated an experimentally derived bandgap‐dependent external radiative efficiency function. Simulations show 33.2% module conversion efficiency is achievable. One grating stack is experimentally fabricated and characterized.https://doi.org/10.1002/ese3.445holographic optical elementsIII‐V alloysmultijunctionphotovoltaicsolar energyspectrum splitting photovoltaics |
| spellingShingle | Sunita Darbe Matthew D. Escarra Emily C. Warmann Harry A. Atwater Simulation and partial prototyping of an eight‐junction holographic spectrum‐splitting photovoltaic module Energy Science & Engineering holographic optical elements III‐V alloys multijunction photovoltaic solar energy spectrum splitting photovoltaics |
| title | Simulation and partial prototyping of an eight‐junction holographic spectrum‐splitting photovoltaic module |
| title_full | Simulation and partial prototyping of an eight‐junction holographic spectrum‐splitting photovoltaic module |
| title_fullStr | Simulation and partial prototyping of an eight‐junction holographic spectrum‐splitting photovoltaic module |
| title_full_unstemmed | Simulation and partial prototyping of an eight‐junction holographic spectrum‐splitting photovoltaic module |
| title_short | Simulation and partial prototyping of an eight‐junction holographic spectrum‐splitting photovoltaic module |
| title_sort | simulation and partial prototyping of an eight junction holographic spectrum splitting photovoltaic module |
| topic | holographic optical elements III‐V alloys multijunction photovoltaic solar energy spectrum splitting photovoltaics |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1002/ese3.445 |
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