Nanophotonic design principles for ultrahigh efficiency photovoltaics

Atwater, Harry A.; Polman, A.; Kosten, Emily D.; Callahan, Dennis M.; Spinelli, Pierpaolo; Eisler, Carissa N.; Escarra, Matthew D.; Warmann, Emily C.; Flowers, Cristofer A.

doi:10.1063/1.4794700

Cited by 15 publications

(9 citation statements)

References 5 publications

(5 reference statements)

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“…Design of “perfect” absorbers and emitters is of considerable current interest and research in the nanophotonics and metamaterials fields. − Perfect absorbers and emitters can find applications in numerous fields across the electromagnetic spectrum, including light and thermal sources, − sensing, , and energy conversion. ,, Two types of near-unity or “perfect” absorption are straightforward to achieve: (1) a wavelength-sized resonator can be used for selective “perfect” absorption, absorption at a single frequency, polarization, and incidence angle, − and (2) an optically thick layer of lossy material can be used for unselective, “perfect” absorption, absorption over a large range of frequencies, angles, and polarizations . However, many applications would benefit from a more comprehensive ability to tailor perfect absorber characteristics, such as achieving directional, spectrally broadband thermal emission of infrared radiation sources, , and broadband, angle-insensitive thin film perfect absorbers for high efficiency, lightweight photovoltaics. ,, To this end, recent work in the field has focused on the realization of selective perfect absorbers that are extremely thin, ,, actively tunable, , and wavelength, angle, or polarization-insensitive, ,, as well as unselective perfect absorbers with small form factors that are insensitive to angle, wavelength, or polarization. , …”

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confidence: 99%

Near-Unity Unselective Absorption in Sparse InP Nanowire Arrays

Fountaine

Cheng²,

Bukowsky³

et al. 2016

ACS Photonics

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We experimentally demonstrate near-unity, unselective absorption, broadband, angle-insensitive, and polarization-independent absorption, in sparse InP nanowire arrays, embedded in flexible polymer sheets via geometric control of waveguide modes in two wire motifs: (i) arrays of tapered wires and (ii) arrays of nanowires with varying radii. Sparse arrays of these structures exhibit enhanced absorption due to strong coupling into the first order azimuthal waveguide modes of individual nanowires; wire radius thus controls the spectral region of the absorption enhancement. Whereas arrays of cylindrical wires with uniform radius exhibit narrowband absorption, arrays of tapered wires and arrays with multiple wire radii expand this spectral region and achieve broadband absorption enhancement. Herein, we present an economic, top-down lithographic/etch fabrication method that enables fabrication of multiple InP nanowire arrays from a single InP wafer with deliberate control of nanowire radius and taper. Using this method, we create sparse tapered and multiradii InP nanowire arrays and demonstrate optical absorption that is broadband (450−900 nm), angle-insensitive, and near-unity (>90%) in roughly 100 nm planar equivalence of InP. These highly absorbing sparse nanowire arrays represent a promising approach to flexible, high efficiency optoelectronic devices, such as photodetectors, solar cells, and photoelectrochemical devices.

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mentioning

confidence: 99%

Near-Unity Unselective Absorption in Sparse InP Nanowire Arrays

Fountaine

Cheng²,

Bukowsky³

et al. 2016

ACS Photonics

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“…At the resonance wavelength, the hybrid PoM shows a strong electric field in the gap region, which is more than 40 times larger than the incident field intensity. For all‐dielectric systems, the field enhancement typically does not exceed fivefold …”

Section: Optical Propertiesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Low‐Loss Hybrid High‐Index Dielectric Particles on a Mirror for Extreme Light Confinement

Maimaiti

Patra

Jones

et al. 2020

Advanced Optical Materials

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The quest for enhancing light–matter interactions at the nanoscale has led scientists to nanophotonic systems that support the smallest possible modes, which are currently realized via particle‐on‐mirror (PoM) geometries using plasmonic particles. The drawback of metallic PoM systems is the large absorption/scattering ratio due to the significant Ohmic losses inherent to plasmonics. Here, an alternative dielectric PoM composed of a high‐index dielectric nanodisk on top of a metallic mirror is realized. Custom‐shaped high‐quality dielectric colloidal nanoparticles are fabricated and dispersed on a mirror to fully unlock the potential of PoM systems. This hybrid device combines the large field enhancement and extreme localization of plasmonic systems with the low absorption of dielectric nanoresonators. By means of far‐field scattering and near‐field cathodoluminescence spectroscopy, the nature of the modes supported by the hybrid PoM are revealed. Utilizing enhanced spectroscopies, such as Raman and fluorescence, these hybrid‐PoM systems are used in proof‐of‐principle applications. A comparison with Au antennas indicates that the hybrid PoM system presents efficiencies and optical characteristics comparable or superior to those of more conventional purely plasmonic systems, opening new avenues for low‐loss light control at the deep nanoscale level.

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“…Other few types of research focused on the enhancement and development of the optical configuration to achieve the ultrahigh GC [35][36][37][38] with less emphasis on the cooling mechanisms to mitigate the thermal-mechanical stress and assure the durability of CPV system under an ultrahigh GC. In fact, one only thermal numerical study has been carried out an Ultrahigh CPV system up to 10 000 suns.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Optimization and feasibility analysis of a microscale pin‐fins heat sink of an ultrahigh concentrating photovoltaic system

et al. 2020

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Nowadays, the most recent optical configuration based on Cassegrain and Fresnel lens designs of concentrator photovoltaic(CPV) has shown a race to achieve the ultrahigh concentration ratio. Still, none of those has experimentally shown an optical concentration ratio (GC) beyond 2000 suns. This is because their energy concentration ratios are challenged by the excessive temperature raised throughout the optical stages, which diminishes the efficiency of the solar cell. In this context, this research work aims to numerically investigate a microscale pin-fins heat sink configuration to enhance the thermal performance and the cost-competitivity of ultrahigh CPV thermal receiver. The impacts of the solar cell area, cell efficiency, and heat sink's material have been analyzed and discussed. The results showed that a circular pin-fins heat sink could accomplish a drop of 23.28% in the maximum operating cell temperature at 10 000 suns for cell area of 1 × 1 mm 2 relatively compared to the conventional flat-plate heat sink. Furthermore, for a circular pin-fins heat sink with a cell area of 2 × 2 mm 2 , the cell temperature started exceeding the safe operating range of temperature (80 C) at 8000 suns with an average temperature of 96.1 C and reaching a maximum of 113.91 C at 10 000 suns. A gradient temperature on the planar direction of the aluminum circular pin-fins heat sink was about 1.187 C at 10 000 suns whereas 0.703 C was recorded in the case of a copper circular pin-fins heat sink. The circular pin-fins heat sink showed the highest thermal performance resulting in maintaining the solar cell temperature within its safe operating range even beyond 10 000 suns. From an economic point of view, aluminum circular pin-fins heat sink has been found to be less costly than the copper one. Finally, it was found that at 8000 suns, the flat-plate heat sink cost is more expensive than the traditional pin-fins heat sink by 14.7%, where the flat-plate heat sink becomes the worst economic configuration at 10 000 suns. At that concentration ratio, the cost has increased by 43.38%, 5.75%, and 10.61% compared to the traditional pin-fins heat sink, cylindrical pin-fins heat sink, and circular pin-fins heat sink, respectively.

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Nanophotonic design principles for ultrahigh efficiency photovoltaics

Cited by 15 publications

References 5 publications

Near-Unity Unselective Absorption in Sparse InP Nanowire Arrays

Near-Unity Unselective Absorption in Sparse InP Nanowire Arrays

Low‐Loss Hybrid High‐Index Dielectric Particles on a Mirror for Extreme Light Confinement

Optimization and feasibility analysis of a microscale pin‐fins heat sink of an ultrahigh concentrating photovoltaic system

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