Enhanced light trapping in solar cells with a meta-mirror following generalized Snell’s law

Khan, M. Ryyan; Wang, Xufeng; Bermel, Peter; Alam, Muhammad A.

doi:10.1364/oe.22.00a973

Cited by 28 publications

(31 citation statements)

References 37 publications

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“…We introduce a matching layer on top of the graded index layer to minimize specular reflection (see Ref. [17] for details). We choose period Γ ௫ ൌ 1100nm for the design wavelength ߣ ൌ 1200nm.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Enhanced selective thermal emission with a meta-mirror following Generalized Snell’s Law

et al. 2015

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Thermal emission plays a critical role in a wide variety of applications, including adjusting radiative losses in photovoltaics and selective solar absorbers, as well as enhancing the emission of high energy photons for thermophotovoltaics and photon-enhanced thermionic emission. In this work, we consider the benefit to thermal emission associated with replacing conventional mirrors with meta-mirrors following Generalized Snell’s Law. By reflecting light at a different angle than incident, they can couple internally guided thermal radiation modes to the escape cone, ideally starting from any internally-guided angle. We illustrate the concept with two meta-mirror structures: a graded index material and a xylophone structure. Even without optimization, angle-averaged selective thermal emission is significantly enhanced compared to the planar case at selected wavelengths. Furthermore, the central wavelength and bandwidth of the enhancement can be matched with the requirements of each application.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…This is known as the 'Generalized Snell's Law' of reflection. This asymmetric scattering offers the possibility of strong enhancement of emission or absorption [17].…”

Section: Theorymentioning

confidence: 99%

Enhanced selective thermal emission with a meta-mirror following Generalized Snell’s Law

et al. 2015

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“…After creating the GUI, the undergraduate researcher validated the solver by running simulations and comparing to previously published research. This simulation tool has now been run over 10,000 times by users from all over the world, and was used in research on selective absorption and emission of metasurfaces presented in Symposium L (metamaterials) of the Fall 2014 MRS Symposium, and published in Optics Express [17].…”

Section: Examples Of Student Researchmentioning

confidence: 99%

nanoHUB.org: A Gateway to Undergraduate Simulation-Based Research in Materials Science and Related Fields

et al. 2015

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Our future engineers and scientists will likely be required to use advanced simulations to solve many of tomorrow's challenges in nanotechnology. To prepare students to meet this need, the Network for Computational Nanotechnology (NCN) provides simulation-focused research experiences for undergraduates at an early point in their educational path, to increase the likelihood that they will ultimately complete a doctoral program. The NCN summer research program currently serves over 20 undergraduate students per year who are recruited nationwide, and selected by NCN and the faculty for aptitude in their chosen field within STEM, as well as complementary skills such as coding and written communication. Under the guidance of graduate student and faculty mentors, undergraduates modify or build nanoHUB simulation tools for exploring interdisciplinary problems in materials science and engineering, and related fields. While the summer projects exist within an overarching research context, the specific tasks that NCN undergraduate students engage in range from modifying existing tools to building new tools for nanoHUB and using them to conduct original research. Simulation tool development takes place within nanoHUB, using nanoHUB's workspace, computational clusters, and additional training and educational resources. One objective of the program is for the students to publish their simulation tools on nanoHUB. These tools can be accessed and executed freely from around the world using a standard web-browser, and students can remain engaged with their work beyond the summer and into their careers. In this work, we will describe the NCN model for undergraduate summer research. We believe that our model is one that can be adopted by other universities, and will discuss the potential for others to engage undergraduate students in simulation-based research using free nanoHUB resources.

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“…Here, narrow atomic transition lines associated with isolated dopants in a transparent substrate having a high melting point have their emissivity amplified through a surrounding photonic structure [17]. For example, the emission spectrum for samarium already displays peaks at wavelengths associated with high-performance TPV systems.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Enhancing selectivity of infrared emitters through quality-factor matching

2015

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It has recently been proposed that designing selective emitters with photonic crystals (PhCs) or plasmonic metamaterials can suppress low-energy photon emission, while enhancing higher-energy photon emission. Here, we will consider multiple approaches to designing and fabricating nanophotonic structures concentrating infrared thermal radiation at energies above a critical threshold. These are based on quality factor matching, in which one creates resonant cavities that couple light out at the same rate that the underlying materials emit it. When this quality-factor matching is done properly, emissivities can approach those of a blackbody, but only within a selected range of thermal photon energies. One potential application is for improving the conversion of heat to electricity via a thermophotovoltaic (TPV) system, by using thermal radiation to illuminate a photovoltaic (PV) diode. In this study, realistic simulations of system efficiencies are performed using finite-difference time domain (FDTD) and rigorous coupled wave analysis (RCWA) to capture both thermal radiation and PV diode absorption. We first consider a previously studied 2D molybdenum photonic crystal with a commercially-available silicon PV diode, which can yield TPV efficiencies up to 26.2%. Second, a 1D-periodic samarium-doped glass emitter with a gallium antimonide (GaSb) PV diode is presented, which can yield efficiencies up to 38.5%. Finally, a 2D tungsten photonic crystal with a 1D integrated, chirped filter and the GaSb PV diode can yield efficiencies up to 38.2%; however, the fabrication procedure is expected to be more challenging. The advantages and disadvantages of each strategy will be discussed.

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Enhanced light trapping in solar cells with a meta-mirror following generalized Snell’s law

Cited by 28 publications

References 37 publications

Enhanced selective thermal emission with a meta-mirror following Generalized Snell’s Law

Enhanced selective thermal emission with a meta-mirror following Generalized Snell’s Law

nanoHUB.org: A Gateway to Undergraduate Simulation-Based Research in Materials Science and Related Fields

Enhancing selectivity of infrared emitters through quality-factor matching

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