Hafnium dioxide coating could improve solar-cell efficiency

摘要

A hafnium dioxide-coated tungsten thermal emitter that could significantly improve the efficiency of solar cells is being developed by researchers at Stanford University, the University of Illinois-Urbana Champaign and North Carolina State University. The component is designed to convert heat from the sun into infrared (IR) radiation, which can then be absorbed by solar cells to make electricity - a technology known as thermophotovoltaics. Unlike earlier prototypes that fell apart at temperatures below 1200℃, this latest thermal emitter remains stable at temperatures as high as 1400℃.