scholarly journals Numerical Study of Multilayer Planar Film Structures for Ideal Absorption in the Entire Solar Spectrum

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (9) ◽  
pp. 3276 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wei Chen ◽  
Jing Liu ◽  
Wen-Zhuang Ma ◽  
Gao-Xiang Yu ◽  
Jing-Qian Chen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Noble Metals ◽  
Numerical Study ◽  
Incident Light ◽  
Solar Spectrum ◽  
Fdtd Simulation ◽  
Polarization Angle ◽  
Solar Absorber ◽  
Solar Energy Harvesting ◽  
Planar Film ◽  
Planar Films

Here, we have theoretically proposed an ideal structure of selective solar absorber with multilayer planar films, which can absorb the incident light throughout the entire solar spectrum (300–2500 nm) and over a wide angular range, whatever the polarization angle of 0°~90°. The efficiency of the proposed absorber is proven by the Finite-Difference Time Domain (FDTD) simulation. The average absorption rate over the solar spectrum is up to 96.6%. The planar design is extremely easy to fabricate and modify, and this structure does not require lithographic processes to finish the absorbers. Improvements of the solar absorber on the basis of planar multilayer-film structures is attributed to multiple asymmetric highly lossy Fabry–Perot resonators. Because of having many virtues, such as using different refractory and non-noble metals, having angle and polarization independence, and having ideal absorption for entire solar spectrum, our proposed absorbers are promising candidates for practical industrial production of the solar-energy harvesting.

scholarly journals Surface Pattern over a Thick Silica Film to Realize Passive Radiative Cooling

Materials ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (10) ◽  
pp. 2637
Author(s):  
Yuhong Liu ◽  
Jing Li ◽  
Chang Liu
Keyword(s):  
Incident Light ◽  
Solar Spectrum ◽  
Infrared Region ◽  
Silica Film ◽  
Surface Pattern ◽  
Radiative Cooling ◽  
Polarization Angle ◽  
Cooling Systems ◽  
Cooling Performance ◽  
High Emissivity

Passive radiative cooling, which cools an item without any electrical input, has drawn much attention in recent years. In many radiative coolers, silica is widely used due to its high emissivity in the mid-infrared region. However, the performance of a bare silica film is poor due to the occurrence of an emitting dip (about 30% emissivity) in the atmospheric transparent window (8–13 μm). In this work, we demonstrate that the emissivity of silica film can be improved by sculpturing structures on its surface. According to our simulation, over 90% emissivity can be achieved at 8–13 μm when periodical silica deep grating is applied on a plane silica film. With the high emissivity at the atmospheric transparent window and the extremely low absorption in the solar spectrum, the structure has excellent cooling performance (about 100 W/m2). The enhancement is because of the coupling between the incident light with the surface modes. Compared with most present radiative coolers, the proposed cooler is much easier to be fabricated. However, 1-D gratings are sensitive to incident polarization, which leads to a degradation in cooling performance. To solve this problem, we further propose another radiative cooler based on a silica cylinder array. The new cooler’s insensitivity to polarization angle and its average emissivity in the atmospheric transparent window is about 98%. Near-unit emissivity and their simple structures enable the two coolers to be applied in real cooling systems.

scholarly journals Ultra-Broadband High-Efficiency Solar Absorber Based on Double-Size Cross-Shaped Refractory Metals

Nanomaterials ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. 552 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hailiang Li ◽  
Jiebin Niu ◽  
Congfen Zhang ◽  
Gao Niu ◽  
Xin Ye ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Absorption Spectrum ◽  
Plasmon Resonance ◽  
High Efficiency ◽  
Incident Light ◽  
Refractory Metals ◽  
Polarization Angle ◽  
Hot Electron ◽  
Local Surface Plasmon Resonance ◽  
Theoretical Simulation ◽  
Solar Absorber

In this paper, a theoretical simulation based on a finite-difference time-domain method (FDTD) shows that the solar absorber can reach ultra-broadband and high-efficiency by refractory metals titanium (Ti) and titanium nitride (TiN). In the absorption spectrum of double-size cross-shaped absorber, the absorption bandwidth of more than 90% is 1182 nm (415.648–1597.39 nm). Through the analysis of the field distribution, we know the physical mechanism is the combined action of propagating plasmon resonance and local surface plasmon resonance. After that, the paper has a discussion about the influence of different structure parameters, polarization angle and angle of incident light on the absorptivity of the absorber. At last, the absorption spectrum of the absorber under the standard spectrum of solar radiance Air Mass 1.5 (AM1.5) is studied. The absorber we proposed can be used in solar energy absorber, thermal photovoltaics, hot-electron devices and so on.

Numerical Study of the Wide-angle Polarization-Independent Ultra-Broadband Efficient Selective Solar Absorber in the Entire Solar Spectrum

Solar RRL ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 1 (7) ◽  
pp. 1700049 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dong Wu ◽  
Yumin Liu ◽  
Zenghui Xu ◽  
Zhongyuan Yu ◽  
Li Yu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Numerical Study ◽  
Solar Spectrum ◽  
Wide Angle ◽  
Solar Absorber ◽  
Polarization Independent

Design and Evaluation of the Fresnel-Lens Based Solar Concentrator System Through a Statistical-Algorithmic Approach

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hassan Qandil ◽  
Weihuan Zhao
Keyword(s):  
High Temperature ◽  
High Efficiency ◽  
Incident Light ◽  
Thermal Analyses ◽  
Solar Spectrum ◽  
Chromatic Aberration ◽  
Fresnel Lens ◽  
Optimum Number ◽  
Solar Concentrator ◽  
Receiver System

A novel non-imaging Fresnel-lens-based solar concentrator-receiver system has been investigated to achieve high-efficiency photon and heat outputs with minimized effect of chromatic aberrations. Two types of non-imaging Fresnel lenses, a spot-flat lens and a dome-shaped lens, are designed through a statistical algorithm incorporated in MATLAB. The algorithm optimizes the lens design via a statistical ray-tracing methodology of the incident light, considering the chromatic aberration of solar spectrum, the lens-receiver spacing and aperture sizes, and the optimum number of prism grooves. An equal-groove-width of the Poly-methyl-methacrylate (PMMA) prisms is adopted in the model. The main target is to maximize ray intensity on the receiver’s aperture, and therefore, achieve the highest possible heat flux and output concentration temperature. The algorithm outputs prism and system geometries of the Fresnel-lens concentrator. The lenses coupled with solar receivers are simulated by COMSOL Multiphysics. It combines both optical and thermal analyses for the lens and receiver to study the optimum lens structure for high solar flux output. The optimized solar concentrator-receiver system can be applied to various devices which require high temperature inputs, such as concentrated photovoltaics (CPV), high-temperature stirling engine, etc.

scholarly journals Novel Two-Dimensional Layered MoSi2Z4 (Z = P, As): New Promising Optoelectronic Materials

Nanomaterials ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 559
Author(s):  
Hui Yao ◽  
Chao Zhang ◽  
Qiang Wang ◽  
Jianwei Li ◽  
Yunjin Yu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Optical Absorption ◽  
Incident Light ◽  
Optoelectronic Devices ◽  
Large Family ◽  
Middle Layer ◽  
Optoelectronic Device ◽  
First Principles Calculation ◽  
Polarization Angle ◽  
Two Dimensional ◽  
Conducting Materials

Very recently, two new two-dimensional (2D) layered semi-conducting materials MoSi2N4 and WSi2N4 were successfully synthesized in experiments, and a large family of these two 2D materials, namely MA2Z4, was also predicted theoretically (Science, 369, 670 (2020)). Motivated by this exciting family, in this work, we systematically investigate the mechanical, electronic and optical properties of monolayer and bilayer MoSi2P4 and MoSi2As4 by using the first-principles calculation method. Numerical results indicate that both monolayer and bilayer MoSi2Z4 (Z = P, As) present good structural stability, isotropic mechanical parameters, moderate bandgap, favorable carrier mobilities, remarkable optical absorption, superior photon responsivity and external quantum efficiency. Especially, due to the wave-functions of band edges dominated by d orbital of the middle-layer Mo atoms are screened effectively, the bandgap and optical absorption hardly depend on the number of layers, providing an added convenience in the experimental fabrication of few-layer MoSi2Z4-based electronic and optoelectronic devices. We also build a monolayer MoSi2Z4-based 2D optoelectronic device, and quantitatively evaluate the photocurrent as a function of energy and polarization angle of the incident light. Our investigation verifies the excellent performance of a few-layer MoSi2Z4 and expands their potential application in nanoscale electronic and optoelectronic devices.

Dynamically tunable plasmon-induced transparency effect based on graphene metasurfaces

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shuxian Chen ◽  
Junyi Li ◽  
Zicong Guo ◽  
Li Chen ◽  
Kunhua Wen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Modulation Depth ◽  
Incident Light ◽  
Polarization Angle ◽  
Refractive Index Sensitivity ◽  
Coupled Mode ◽  
Terahertz Devices ◽  
Index Sensitivity ◽  
Induced Transparency ◽  
Difference Time ◽  
Plasmon Induced Transparency

Abstract Plasmon-induced transparency (PIT) is theoretically explored with a graphene metamaterial using finite-difference time-domain numerical simulations and coupled-mode-theory theoretical analysis. In this work, the proposed structure is consisted of one rectangular cavity and three strips to generate the PIT phenomenon. The PIT window can be regulated dynamically by adjusting the Fermi level of the graphene. Importantly, the modulation depth of the amplitude can reach 90.4%. The refractive index sensitivity of the PIT window is also investigated, and the simulation result shows that a sensitivity of 1.335 THz/RIU is achieved. Additionally, when the polarization angle of the incident light is changed gradually from 0˚ to 90˚, the performances of the structure are greatly affected. Finally, the proposed structure is particularly enlightening for the design of dynamically tuned terahertz devices.

Intlp compounds for Underwater Solar Energy Harvesting

MRS Advances ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 3 (3) ◽  
pp. 153-158 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ahmed Zayan ◽  
Thomas E. Vandervelde
Keyword(s):  
Energy Harvesting ◽  
Solar Energy ◽  
Spectral Response ◽  
Solar Spectrum ◽  
Electrical Energy ◽  
Unmanned Underwater Vehicles ◽  
Solar Energy Harvesting ◽  
System P ◽  
Term Energy ◽  
P Cells

ABSTRACTWith the rising interest in oceanic monitoring, climate awareness and surveillance, the scientific community need for developing autonomous, self-sustaining Unmanned Underwater Vehicles (UUVs) increased as well. Limitations on the size, maneuverability, power consumption, and available on-site maintenance of these UUVs make a number of proposed technologies to power them harder to implement than others; solar energy harvesting stands as one of the more promising candidates to address the need for a long-term energy supply for UUVs due to its relatively small size and ease of deployment. Studies show research groups focusing on the use of Si cells (amorphous and crystalline), InGaP, and more recently Organic Photovoltaics to convert the attenuated solar spectrum under shallow depths (no deeper than 9.1 m) into electrical energy used or stored by the UUV’s power management system (P. P. Jenkins et al. 2014; Walters et al. 2015). In our study, we consider the ternary compound In1-xTlxP that allows for varying the quantum efficiency of the cell, and by extension the overall harvesting efficiency of the system by altering the Tl content (x) in the compound. In1-xTlxP on InP is a low strain system since the compound exhibits very little change in its lattice constant with changing Tl content due to the comparable atomic size and forces of In and Tl allowing for relatively easy growth on InP substrates. The study focuses on studying the spectral response and comparing the performance of an optimized single junction In1-xTlxP cells to In1-yGayP cells while accounting for the optical losses of the solar irradiance underwater for various depths.

Deposition & Characterization of TiAlON & TiMoAlON Solar Absorber Coatings for High Temperature Photothermal Applications Prepared by PEM Controlled Dual-Gas Reactive Magnetron Sputtering

2012 ◽  
Vol 538-541 ◽  
pp. 344-349 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hai Bin Geng ◽  
Tao Wu ◽  
Cheng Wei Ma
Keyword(s):  
High Temperature ◽  
High Performance ◽  
Near Infrared ◽  
Solar Spectrum ◽  
Single Crystal Silicon ◽  
Crystal Silicon ◽  
Precise Control ◽  
Silicon Chips ◽  
Solar Absorber ◽  
Absorbing Layer

A novel Plasma Emission Monitoring (PEM) controlled N2-O2 dual gas reactive dcMS method is proposed for deopsiting TiAlON and TiMoAlON solar absorber coatings. Working in a 'cheated' feedback mode, the PEM controller ensures smooth & precise control of O/N ratio in obtained oxy-nitrides without occuring of serious target poisoning. The coatings have three functional layers including the infrared reflector, the absorbing layer, and the antireflection layer. The absorbing layers of the two kinds of coatings are both designed to have a gradually change Al and/or O content. However, the TiAlON coatings have a single TiAlON absorber layer while the TiMoAlON have a tandem absorber composed of a Mo doped TiAlN layer and a Mo doped TiAlON layer. Single-crystal silicon chips and glass slides are used as substrates to deposit the coatings and to characterize the photothermal conversion properties and thermal stability of the coatings by using SEM, UV-visible-near infrared photospectrometer, and solar spectrum emissiometer. The experimtal results show that the tandem TiMoAlON coating exhibits superior theraml stability up to 550oC. After annealing in air at 500oC for 8hrs, it exhibits higher absorptance than as-deposited status. The annealed TiMoAlON coating has a broad absorbing peak covering 400-800nm, which is beneficial to collect the majority energy in solar radiation. Due to its higher absorptivity and lower normal emissivity than the TiAlON coatings, the TiMoAlON coating yields a high solar selectivity (α/ε≈19) at room temperature. However, at 500oC, its ε value increases from 0.05 to about 0.25 which might attribute to its excessive thicknesses of the sublayers. The above results demonstrate that the proposed method is a convenient way for preparing high performance oxy-nitride solar absorber coatings which are suitable for non-vacuum high temperature photothermal applications.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document