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Maximal power output by solar cells with angular confinement

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Abstract

Angularly selective filters can increase the efficiency of radiatively limited solar cells. A restriction of the acceptance angle is linked to the kind of utilizable solar spectrum (global or direct radiation). This has to be considered when calculating the potential enhancement of both the efficiency and the power output. In this paper, different concepts to realize angularly selective filters are compared regarding their limits for efficiency and power output per unit area. First experimental results of a promising system based on a thin-film filter as the angularly selective element are given to demonstrate the practical relevance of such systems.

© 2014 Optical Society of America

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Figures (6)

Fig. 1
Fig. 1 Schemes of the three systems (From left: (i), (ii) and (iii)).
Fig. 2
Fig. 2 Short circuit current densities of the three systems.
Fig. 3
Fig. 3 Open circuit voltages of the three systems.
Fig. 4
Fig. 4 Efficiencies of the three systems. The ellipsis mark the point of maximal efficiency.
Fig. 5
Fig. 5 Power output per unit area of the three systems. The ellipsis mark the point of maximal power output.
Fig. 6
Fig. 6 Left (a): Angular dependent Fourier spectrometer measurement of the filter reflectance. Right (b): Measurement of the difference in voltage of the system with and without filter.

Equations (8)

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σ ext = k B ln( ε out ε in ).
J( V  )= J rad ( V  )+ J Aug ( V  )  J gen  .
J gen =q 0 a(λ,W)AM1.5(λ)dλ.
a LB ( λ,W )=1exp( 2α( λ )W ).
a Diffuse ( θ ext ,λ,W )= α( λ ) α( λ )+ sin 2 θ ext ( λ ) 4n ( λ ) 2 W  .
J Auger =qCW n i 3 exp( 3qV 2 k B T ) .
J rad = 0 a( λ,W )( qd j cell ( λ,V )qd j cell ( λ,V=0 ) ).
d j cell (λ,V)= (2c sin 2 θ ext (λ)) λ 4 dλ exp((hc/λqV)/( k B T))1 .
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