Boosting PV cell performances by using horn nano-concentrators

Abstract

Electric power generated by a photovoltaic (PV) converter, such as a solar cell or a photodiode, depends primarily on the illumination level on the active surface. Light concentrators allow increasing the illumination level, boosting the conversion efficiency. In this contribution, we investigate a broadband optical nano-concentrator consisting of a pyramidal horn nano-antenna. First, we present the nano-antenna performances in a transmitting stand-alone configuration. Then, we study the antenna in the receiving mode when it is excited by a normal impinging plane-wave and acts as a nano-concentrator coupled to a germanium nano-photodiode. A multi-physics analysis allows us estimating the temperature rise of the photodiode caused by the concentration of the light energy on its active surface.