A high irradiance solar furnace for solar cell characterization and nanomaterial synthesis

Abstract

A high irradiance solar furnace geared toward elucidating the distinctive physics of concentrator photovoltaics and driving high-temperature reactors for the generation of novel nanostructures is described, with a target irradiance up to 12 W/mm 2 . The opto-mechanical design permits real-sun flash illumination at a millisecond time scale so that solar cells can be characterized with only insubstantial increases in cell temperature even at irradiance levels of thousands of suns.

Architecture at the Nanoscale—Self‐Pillared Zeolite Nanosheets

“…Under these conditions, rapid quenching at ultra‐hot non‐equilibrium conditions might produce exfoliated nanosheets. This prompted development of the solar furnace illustrated in Figure 12 for which the attainable peak irradiance is ∼15,000 suns 39…”

“… Solar furnace (based on converging Gregorian‐telescope optics) 39. Sunlight is reflected into the lab from a dual‐axis tracking outdoor mirror, reflected upward by a flat tilted mirror (A), to a parabolic dish (B) the focus of which lies slightly below the tilted mirror.…”