Mechanically stacked, tandem thermophotovoltaic (TPV) cells featuring integrated air-bridge InGaAs and InGaAsP subcells achieve high spectral efficiency and emission temperature versatility. Thermocompression bonding of electrodes on opposing single air-bridge cells increases out-of-band reflectance (ROUT) compared to cells lacking air bridges. We report a 0.74/0.74 eV homotandem exhibiting ROUT = 96.4%. When operated in a multiterminal arrangement, the homotandem achieves 38% efficiency, marking a 20% absolute improvement over a comparable two-terminal configuration. We also demonstrate a 0.9/0.74 eV heterotandem with ROUT = 97.2% and spectral efficiency approaching 80%. By minimizing losses associated with parasitic absorption and current mismatch, the tandem substantially expands the emission temperature range while preserving high efficiency. This leads to a reduction in the cost of energy storage by over 40%. The air-bridge tandem technology paves the way for high-performance tandem cells compatible with a variety of heat sources unrestricted by the choice of subcell materials.
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Air-Bridge Cells for Higher Emission Temperatures
Interest in thermal batteries for inexpensive grid-scale storage of renewable energy motivates the development of photovoltaics that efficiently convert very high temperature thermal emission to electrical energy. We have previously shown that InGaAs air-bridge cells can increase TPV efficiency by −30% compared to cells with more conventional back surface reflectors. In this study, we design and experimentally characterize airbridge cells with wider bandgaps for applications at higher emission temperatures. Parametric studies with varying bandgap and emitter temperature identify high performance regimes. At temperatures up to 2000K, predicted device efficiencies of single-junction air-bridge cells match that of record-holding multi-junction cells. Furthermore, a novel platform for device testing using porous graphite emitters is designed and experimentally demonstrated.
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- Award ID(s):
- 2144662
- PAR ID:
- 10483741
- Publisher / Repository:
- IEEE
- Date Published:
- Journal Name:
- 2023 IEEE 50th Photovoltaic Specialists Conference (PVSC)
- ISBN:
- 978-1-6654-6059-0
- Page Range / eLocation ID:
- 1 to 3
- Format(s):
- Medium: X
- Location:
- San Juan, PR, USA
- Sponsoring Org:
- National Science Foundation
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