FULLSPECTRUM: A new PV wave making more efficient use of the solar spectrum

• Research unit: EU RFP
• Project number: 03.0111-1

Key words (English)

Multijunction solar cells; thermophotovoltaics; advanced concepts for photovoltaic conversion

Alternative project number (English)

EU project number: 502620

Research programs (English)

EU-programme: 6. Frame Research Programme - 1.6.1.2.4

Short description (English)

See abstract

Abstract (English)

The project pursues a better exploitation of the FULL solar SPECTRUM (as requested in the -. Work Programme) by further developing concepts already scientifically proven but not yet developed and by trying to prove new ones in the search for a breakthrough in PV technology. More specific objectives are the development of: a) III-V multijunction cells (MJC), b) Solar Thermophotovoltaic (TPV) converters, c) Intermediate band (IB) materials and cells (IBC), d) Molecularbased concepts (MBC) for full PV utilisation of the solar spectrum and e) Manufacturing Technologies (MFG) for novel concepts including assembling. MJC technology towards 40 %
efficiency will be developed using lower cost substrates and high light concentration (up or above 1000 suns). TPV is a concept with a highly theoretical efficiency limit because the entire energy of all the photons is used in the heating process and because the non-used photons can be fed back to the emitter, therefore helping in keeping it hot. Small prototypes with sun/gas heated emitters will also be developed. In the mc approach sub-bandgap photons are exploited by means of an IB. IB materials will be sought by direct synthesis suggested by material-band calculations and using nanotechnology in quantum dot IBCs. In the development of the MBC, topics like the development of two-photon dye cells and the development of a static global (direct and diffuse) light concentrator by means of luminescent multicolour dyes and QDs, with the radiation confined by photonic crystals, will be particularly addressed. Manufacturing technologies include optoelectronic assembling techniques and coupling of light to cells with new-optic miniconcentrators.

References in databases (English)

Swiss Database: Euro-DB of the
State Secretariat for Education and Research
Hallwylstrasse 4
CH-3003 Berne, Switzerland
Tel. [phone]
Swiss Project-Number: 03.0111-1