INNOVATIVE SILICON-CONCENTRATOR SOLAR CELL FOR THERMOPHOTOVOLTAIC APPLICATION

摘要

A solar cell for thermophotovoltaic (TPV) application requires a high reflectance above the band-gap wavelength to reflect infrared radiation back to the radiation source. Furthermore, due to a relative close position to the radiator this solar cell requires also a small series resistance because of the high current density. In this work an innovative Si-solar cell design for concentrating TPV systems has been developed for application with an Ytterbium-oxide (YbO_2) radiator which has an emission peak at 980 nm below the band-gap wavelength limit for Si-solar cells at 1103 nm. The cells are characterised by a grooved surface and obliquely evaporated contacts (OECO MIS-n~+p). These cells exhibit excellent reflectance in the near infrared (NIR) which means that no filter has to be used within the TPV-system. This lowers the overall costs of the TPV-system and increases the system efficiency because no filter losses occur. In this case the silicon solar cell is low cost alternative for use in TPV systems.