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A nanoparticle fluid filter consisting of gold nanoparticles and indium tin oxide nanocrystals was fabricated and the optical properties were assessed. Results were integrated against the AM 1.5 solar spectrum to determine solar weighted efficiency of the filter for light energies transmitted above the bandgap to a photovoltaic cell for direct electrical generation while absorbing light below the bandgap that is converted to heat for thermal storage or processing. Temperature dependent bandgaps for both GaAs and cSi were used for optimization of the filter design. GaAs is preferred based upon its higher IR reflectivity, lower temperature coefficient, and greater high-temperature efficiency. However, cSi is significantly cheaper than current and projected GaAs costs. It was found that the experimental filter efficiency was 62% for GaAs and 56% for cSi which was within 6% of previous theoretical predictions.

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A 2D heat transfer model of a hybrid photovoltaic/thermal (PV/T) system has been created. This paper investigates the impact of ideal filters to best accommodate for a nonuniform PV temperature along the length of the receiver. The proposed configuration consists of a GaAs cell laminated to an aluminum extrusion. The working fluid, a transparent high-temperature heat transfer fluid with suspended nanoparticles, flows through the hollow extrusion where it cools the PV cell before it is redirected in front of the cell acting as an optical filter. The model accounts for PV cell efficiency, temperature, and bandgap dependence, the details often neglected in prior works.