Lossless hybridization between photovoltaic and thermoelectric devices

Scientific Reports 3, Article number: 2123

https://doi.org/10.1038/srep02123

Kwang-Tae Park, Sun-Mi Shin, Abdullah S. Tazebay, Han-Don Um, Jin-Young Jung, Sang-Won Jee, Min-Wook Oh, Su-Dong Park, Bongyoung Yoo, Choongho Yu, Jung-Ho Lee

Abstract The optimal hybridization of photovoltaic (PV) and thermoelectric (TE) devices has long been considered ideal for the efficient harnessing solar energy. Our hybrid approach uses full spectrum solar energy via lossless coupling between PV and TE devices while collecting waste energy from thermalization and transmission losses from PV devices. Achieving lossless coupling makes the power output from the hybrid device equal to the sum of the maximum power outputs produced separately from individual PV and TE devices. TE devices need to have low internal resistances enough to convey photo-generated currents without sacrificing the PV fill factor. Concomitantly, a large number of p-n legs are preferred to drive a high Seebeck voltage in TE. Our simple method of attaching a TE device to a PV device has greatly improved the conversion efficiency and power output of the PV device (,30% at a 156C temperature gradient across a TE device).