Towards biomimetic red solar cells

Torben Lenau*, Faiz Ahmad, Akhlesh Lakhtakia

*Corresponding author for this work

    Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingArticle in proceedingsResearchpeer-review

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    Abstract

    Silicon photovoltaic solar cells generally have a black or blue appearance that makes them aesthetically very different from traditional red roofs that either comprise burned-clay tiles or composite-material shingles. Rooftop solar cells may become more acceptable if they are similar in appearance to traditional roofs. This objective requires that the red part (620–700 nm wavelength) of the incoming solar spectrum be reflected so that it becomes unavailable for photovoltaic generation of electricity. Complete reflection of red photons would result in the reduction of useful solar photons (300– 1200 nm wavelength) by 12.5%. Calculations show that the optical short-circuit density will then decline by: 17% for 100-μm-thick crystalline-silicon solar cells, 20–22% for triple-junction tandem thin-film solar cells of amorphous silicon, 15-16% for 2.2-μm-thick CIGS solar cells, and 16–20% for ultrathin CIGS solar cells. On average, the efficiency of a typical solar cell will have to be multiplied by a factor of 0.8 if all red photons were reflected. This reduction in efficiency can be offset by wider adoption of rooftop solar cells. Red-rejection filters can be made of particulate composite materials containing, say, silica nanospheres. Typically, the solar cells will be iridescent then, which may not be aesthetically pleasing to many. Non-iridescent red-rejection filters can be fabricated by upscaling the linear dimensions of biomimetic filters nano-imprinted to reproduce the Morpho blue, this possibility being guaranteed by the scale invariance of the Maxwell equations and the weak dispersion of the refractive indexes of numerous polymers in the visible spectral regime. Non-uniformly red rooftop solar cells would also become feasible.
    Original languageEnglish
    Title of host publicationBioinspiration, Biomimetics, and Bioreplication IX
    EditorsJ. Martín-Palma Raúl , Mato Knez, Akhlesh Lakhtakia
    Number of pages15
    Volume10965
    PublisherSPIE - International Society for Optical Engineering
    Publication date2019
    Article number109650E
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 2019
    EventSPIE Smart Structures + Nondestructive Evaluation 2019 - Denver, United States
    Duration: 3 Mar 20197 Mar 2019

    Conference

    ConferenceSPIE Smart Structures + Nondestructive Evaluation 2019
    Country/TerritoryUnited States
    CityDenver
    Period03/03/201907/03/2019

    Keywords

    • Colored solar cells
    • Biomimetics
    • Rejection filter
    • Structural colors
    • Silicon solar cells
    • CIGS solar cells
    • Tandem solar cells

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