Solar spectrum energy flux regulation and power generation device and method

Abstract

The present application relates to a kind of solar spectrum energy flow regulation and power generation device and method, belong to the technical field of thermionic emission power generation.The device includes the light-transmitting substrate and the translucent photon-enhanced thermionic emission cathode that are sequentially attached;The translucent photon-enhanced thermionic emission cathode is provided with transparent anode by interval support;The region between the translucent photon-enhanced thermionic emission cathode and transparent anode is interelectrode region, for providing electron transport space;The translucent photon-enhanced thermionic emission cathode and transparent anode are connected with variable load.The present application selectively absorbs part of high-energy photons in solar spectrum by translucent photon-enhanced thermionic emission cathode, promotes electron photoexcitation and thermionic emission, while allowing the remaining solar spectrum not absorbed to pass through device, thereby realizing the synergy of solar power generation and solar spectrum energy flow regulation.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to a solar spectral energy flow regulation and power generation device and method, belonging to the fields of concentrated solar power generation, comprehensive utilization of solar energy, solar thermal power generation and thermionic emission power generation. Background Technology

[0002] Photon-enhanced thermionic emission (PETE) is a solar power generation technology that combines semiconductor light absorption, electron photoexcitation, and thermionic emission. Its basic principle is to use sunlight to irradiate a semiconductor cathode, causing electrons to transition from the valence band to the conduction band under photon excitation. These electrons absorb additional thermal energy from the cathode, overcome the surface potential barrier, and are emitted to the anode, thus converting solar energy into electrical energy. Compared to traditional thermionic emission power generation technologies, PETE does not rely entirely on high-temperature thermal excitation, achieving higher electron emission capabilities at relatively lower temperatures and reducing the device's dependence on extreme high cathode temperatures.

[0003] Existing PETE devices typically employ an absorption-type cathode structure, with design goals primarily focused on improving solar energy absorption, enhancing electron emission intensity, and improving interelectrode electron transport. However, under actual concentrated solar power conditions, different wavelengths of the solar spectrum contribute differently to the PETE power generation process. Some high-energy photons can effectively excite electrons and enhance thermionic emission, while some low-energy photons—spectral components with insufficient energy to excite electron transitions—are converted into cathode thermal energy, thus increasing the cathode temperature. Although an increase in cathode temperature is more conducive to electron emission, as the cathode temperature rises, electron emission gradually shifts from photon enhancement to thermionic emission dominance. The photon enhancement effect of PETE gradually decreases, system heat loss increases, and material stability declines.

[0004] On the other hand, in solar thermal utilization, solar particle heat absorption and storage, solar thermochemical reactions, photovoltaic / solar thermal synergistic power generation, and concentrated solar power integrated utilization systems, the graded utilization of the solar spectrum and the regulation of solar energy flow are of great significance. If PETE devices can selectively utilize a portion of high-energy solar photons to generate electricity, while allowing the remaining solar spectrum to continue to pass through and enter subsequent solar energy utilization units, a novel solar energy conversion structure that combines power generation, spectrum distribution, and energy flow regulation functions can be formed.

[0005] Therefore, it is necessary to propose a semi-transparent or transmissive PETE solar power generation device, so that PETE can not only serve as a solar power generation unit, but also as a solar spectrum energy flow regulation unit, to achieve synergy between high-energy photon power generation absorption and residual solar spectrum transmission utilization. Summary of the Invention

[0006] To address the shortcomings of existing technologies, this invention provides a solar energy spectrum energy flow regulation and power generation device and method. By selectively absorbing a portion of high-energy photons in the solar spectrum through a semi-transparent photon-enhanced thermionic emission cathode, it promotes electron photoexcitation and thermionic emission. At the same time, it allows the remaining unabsorbed solar spectrum to pass through the device to form a transmission spectral energy flow, which can be collected and utilized by subsequent solar energy utilization units, thereby achieving synergy between solar power generation and solar energy spectrum energy flow regulation.

[0007] The technical solution of the present invention is as follows: A solar spectral energy flow regulation and power generation device, comprising: A transparent substrate and a semi-transparent photon-enhanced thermionic emission cathode are sequentially bonded together; A translucent photon-enhanced thermionic emission cathode is provided with a transparent anode via a spacer support; The region between the semi-transparent photon-enhanced thermionic emission cathode and the transparent anode is called the interelectrode region, which provides space for electron transport. The semi-transparent photon-enhanced thermionic emission cathode and the transparent anode are connected to an external load.

[0008] According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the semi-transparent photon-enhanced thermionic emission cathode is a semiconductor thin film, a semiconductor heterojunction thin film, a composite semiconductor thin film, a doped semiconductor thin film, or a surface-modified semiconductor thin film.

[0009] According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the semi-transparent photon-enhanced thermionic emission cathode is configured as a spectrally selective absorption cathode. Its material bandgap, absorption coefficient, film thickness, surface work function, and transmittance are synergistically designed according to the target power generation flow and the target transmission flow. The bandgap is used to determine the spectral range that can be absorbed and generate photogenerated carriers. The film thickness and cathode temperature jointly determine the absorption coefficient, absorptivity, and transmittance for photons of different wavelengths. The surface work function is used to adjust the electron emission barrier. Neglecting material reflection, the wavelength is... λ spectral transmittance τ absorption coefficient α and film thickness d The relationship is: Absorption rate A Represented as: ; The total absorption power of the semi-transparent photon-enhanced thermionic emission cathode is: ,in, λ 1 to λ 2 represents the incident solar spectrum range, and C represents the concentration ratio. I sun ( λ ( ) represents the solar spectral irradiance; the formula for calculating the current density of a semi-transparent photon-enhanced thermionic emission cathode is: ; in, A C Richardson's constant for the cathode. T C The cathode temperature, ϕ C The work function of the cathode surface. n and n eq These are the conduction band electron concentration and the conduction band equilibrium electron concentration, respectively.

[0010] Photon enhancement further increases the electron concentration in the conduction band beyond the equilibrium electron concentration, improving electron emissivity. However, only photons with energies higher than the band gap can excite electrons to the conduction band. Therefore, it is necessary to select a cathode material with a suitable band gap and adjust its film thickness to control the absorptivity and transmittance of the cathode. This allows spectral components that favor photon-enhanced thermionic emission to be preferentially absorbed, achieving controllable distribution of transmitted solar spectral energy flux. By reducing or matching the surface work function, photogenerated electrons generated by absorbed photons are more easily emitted from the cathode surface under thermal excitation, thereby enabling the device to generate electricity.

[0011] According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the transparent anode is a transparent conductive oxide film, an ultrathin metal film, a metal mesh, a transparent conductive mesh, graphene, a carbon nanotube transparent conductive film, or a composite structure thereof.

[0012] According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the interelectrode region is a vacuum, a low-pressure atmosphere, a low-pressure inert atmosphere, an alkali metal vapor atmosphere, or other working environments that are conducive to electron transport and collection.

[0013] According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, an anti-reflective layer is provided on one side of the light-transmitting substrate to reduce optical loss and protect the surface of the device.

[0014] According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, an encapsulation structure is provided on the outside of the anti-reflection layer, the light-transmitting substrate, the semi-transparent photon-enhanced thermionic emission cathode, and the transparent anode to form a sealed cavity and maintain the vacuum or alkali metal vapor environment required for the electrode gap between the cathode and the anode.

[0015] According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a solar energy utilization unit is further provided on the light-emitting side of the control and power generation device. Sunlight passing through the control and power generation device enters the solar energy utilization unit. The solar energy utilization unit is one or more of the following: a photothermal utilization unit, a photoelectric conversion unit, a photochemical conversion unit, a thermochemical conversion unit, and an energy storage unit. Among them, the solar thermal utilization unit is a solar heat absorber, particle heat absorber, fluid heat absorber or other solar thermal utilization device; the photoelectric conversion unit is a photovoltaic cell or other photoelectric conversion device; the photochemical conversion unit is a photocatalytic reaction device, photoelectrochemical reaction device or other device that uses light energy to drive chemical reaction; the thermochemical conversion unit is a thermochemical reaction device that uses transmitted sunlight to heat and drive reaction; and the energy storage unit is a molten salt energy storage unit, particle thermal storage unit or other energy storage device.

[0016] The operating method of the above-mentioned solar spectral energy flow regulation and power generation device includes the following steps: Sunlight enters from one side of the semi-transparent photon-enhanced thermionic emission cathode. The semi-transparent photon-enhanced thermionic emission cathode selectively absorbs some of the high-energy photons in the solar spectrum, causing photon excitation of electrons within the semi-transparent photon-enhanced thermionic emission cathode. Under the combined effect of thermal excitation, thermionic emission is generated. The emitted electrons pass through the interelectrode region and are collected by the transparent anode. Electrical energy is output through an external load. Sunlight that is not absorbed or reflected by the semi-transparent photon-enhanced thermionic emission cathode and the transparent anode passes through the control and power generation device, forming a transmitted solar spectrum energy flow on the light-emitting side. The transmitted solar spectrum energy flow enters the solar energy utilization unit to achieve energy cascade utilization.

[0017] The beneficial effects of this invention are as follows: 1. This invention extends the traditional absorption-type PETE device into a semi-transparent PETE device, enabling it to simultaneously possess solar power generation and solar spectrum energy flow regulation functions.

[0018] 2. This invention does not aim solely at maximizing full-spectrum solar energy absorption with a semi-transparent photon-enhanced thermionic emission cathode. Instead, it selectively absorbs high-energy photons that are beneficial for PETE power generation and allows some of the remaining solar spectrum to pass through into subsequent solar energy utilization units to achieve tiered energy utilization, providing a new device structure for the graded utilization of solar energy spectrum.

[0019] 3. This invention achieves a controllable distribution between the energy flow absorbed by PETE power generation and the energy flow transmitted by transmitting solar energy by adjusting the cathode material, film thickness, surface work function, etc.

[0020] 4. This invention can avoid the problem of excessive heat generation of solar photons in the cathode, which leads to excessively high cathode temperature, increased heat dissipation burden and weakened photon enhancement effect. It improves the flexibility of device spectrum utilization and reserves available solar energy flow for subsequent solar thermal, thermochemical, particle heat absorption and storage or photovoltaic utilization, so as to realize the graded and efficient comprehensive utilization of solar energy.

[0021] 5. This invention can be used as an independent solar power generation device, or as a front-end energy conversion unit in a solar spectrum splitting, solar cascade utilization, or concentrated solar power integrated utilization system.

[0022] 6. This invention utilizes the characteristic of a semi-transparent photon-enhanced thermionic emission cathode to operate stably at higher temperatures, enabling it to adapt to solar radiation with high concentration ratios and high energy flux densities, achieving photoelectric conversion at high temperatures. This invention reduces the limitations of high temperatures on power generation performance and improves the carrying capacity and overall utilization efficiency of concentrated solar energy. Attached Figure Description

[0023] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the present invention.

[0024] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the selective absorption and residual transmission of the solar spectrum in this invention.

[0025] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram illustrating the ratio of absorbed energy flow to transmitted solar energy flow in the power generation controlled by semi-transparent photon-enhanced thermionic emission cathodes of different thicknesses according to the present invention.

[0026] Figure 4 This is a simulation diagram of the present invention. Figure 4 (a) is a schematic diagram of the simulation results of the absorption rate of a semi-transparent photon-enhanced thermionic emission cathode at different wavelengths; Figure 4 (b) is a schematic diagram of the simulation results of the total absorptivity of the solar spectrum by a semi-transparent photon-enhanced thermionic emission cathode at different film thicknesses and cathode temperatures.

[0027] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the solar energy utilization unit of the present invention.

[0028] The components include: 1. Transparent substrate; 2. Semi-transparent photon-enhanced thermionic emission cathode; 3. Spacer support; 4. Transparent anode; 5. Inter-electrode region; 6. Anti-reflection layer; 7. External load; 8. Encapsulation structure; 9. Solar energy utilization unit; 10. Regulation and power generation device. Detailed Implementation

[0029] The present invention will be further described below with reference to the embodiments and accompanying drawings, but is not limited thereto.

[0030] Example 1: like Figure 1-4 As shown, this embodiment provides a solar spectral energy flow regulation and power generation device, including: A light-transparent substrate 1 and a semi-transparent photon-enhanced thermionic emission cathode 2 are sequentially bonded together; A translucent photon-enhanced thermionic emission cathode 2 is provided with a transparent anode 4 via a spacer support 3; The region between the semi-transparent photon-enhanced thermionic emission cathode 2 and the transparent anode 4 is the interelectrode region 5, which provides electron transport space; A semi-transparent photon-enhanced thermionic emission cathode 2 and a transparent anode 4 are connected to an external load 7.

[0031] The semi-transparent photon-enhanced thermionic emission cathode 2 is a semiconductor thin film, a semiconductor heterojunction thin film, a composite semiconductor thin film, a doped semiconductor thin film, or a surface-modified semiconductor thin film.

[0032] The semi-transparent photon-enhanced thermionic emission cathode 2 is a spectrally selective absorption cathode. Its material bandgap, absorption coefficient, film thickness, surface work function, and transmittance are designed in a coordinated manner according to the target power generation flow and the target transmission flow. The bandgap is used to determine the spectral range that can be absorbed and generate photogenerated carriers. The film thickness and cathode temperature together determine the absorption coefficient, absorptivity, and transmittance for photons of different wavelengths. The surface work function is used to adjust the electron emission barrier.

[0033] The total absorption power of the semi-transparent photon-enhanced thermionic emission cathode 2 is: ,in, λ 1 to λ 2 represents the incident solar spectrum range, and C represents the concentration ratio. I sun ( λ ( ) represents the solar spectral irradiance; the formula for calculating the current density of a semi-transparent photon-enhanced thermionic emission cathode is: ;in, A C Richardson's constant for the cathode. T C The cathode temperature, ϕ C The work function of the cathode surface. n and n eq These are the conduction band electron concentration and the conduction band equilibrium electron concentration, respectively.

[0034] Photon enhancement further increases the conduction band electron concentration beyond the equilibrium concentration, improving electron emissivity. However, only photons with energies higher than the band gap can excite electrons to the conduction band. Therefore, it is necessary to select a cathode material with a suitable band gap and adjust its film thickness to control the cathode's absorptivity and transmittance. This allows for the preferential absorption of spectral components conducive to photon-enhanced thermionic emission, achieving controllable distribution of transmitted solar spectral energy flux. By reducing or matching the surface work function, photogenerated electrons from absorbed photons are more easily emitted from the cathode surface under thermal excitation, thus enabling the device to generate electricity. Neglecting material reflection, the wavelength is... λ spectral transmittance τ absorption coefficient α and film thickness d The relationship is: Absorption rate ARepresented as: ; In this embodiment, silicon, a semiconductor material, is used as the cathode thin film material for simulation testing. The simulation results are as follows: Figure 4 As shown. By Figure 4 It can be seen that the cathode exhibits different spectral absorption characteristics at different film thicknesses and temperatures, indicating that the absorption characteristics of the incident spectrum can be controlled by adjusting the cathode film thickness and operating temperature.

[0035] When the cathode film thickness is small, the cathode absorbs sunlight less and the proportion of transmitted solar energy flow is higher, which is suitable for scenarios where subsequent solar energy utilization units require a large transmitted light energy flow.

[0036] When the cathode film is thicker, the absorption of high-energy photons by the cathode is enhanced, and the power generation output of the photon-enhanced thermionic emission device is improved. However, the proportion of transmitted solar energy flow is reduced, which is suitable for scenarios where the front-end power generation output is prioritized.

[0037] The inter-electrode region 5 is a vacuum, low-pressure atmosphere, low-pressure inert atmosphere, alkali metal vapor atmosphere, or other working environment conducive to electron transport and collection.

[0038] An anti-reflection layer 6 is provided on one side of the light-transmitting substrate 1 to reduce optical loss and protect the surface of the device.

[0039] An encapsulation structure 8 is provided on the outside of the anti-reflection layer 6, the light-transmitting substrate 1, the translucent photon-enhanced thermionic emission cathode 2, and the transparent anode 4. This encapsulation structure 8 is used to form a sealed cavity and maintain the vacuum or alkali metal vapor environment required for the electrode gap between the cathode and the anode. The encapsulation structure 8 can be connected to a temperature control device to adjust the operating temperature of the device.

[0040] External load 7 is electrically connected to the electrode lead-out terminal for outputting electrical energy.

[0041] The operating method of the above-mentioned solar spectral energy flow regulation and power generation device includes the following steps: Sunlight enters from one side of the semi-transparent photon-enhanced thermionic emission cathode 2. The semi-transparent photon-enhanced thermionic emission cathode 2 is a spectrally selective absorption cathode. It selectively absorbs some high-energy photons in the solar spectrum and causes photon excitation of electrons in the semi-transparent photon-enhanced thermionic emission cathode 2. Under the combined action of thermal excitation, thermionic emission is generated. The emitted electrons pass through the interelectrode region 5 and are collected by the transparent anode 4. Electrical energy is output through the external load 7. Sunlight that is not absorbed or reflected by the semi-transparent photon-enhanced thermionic emission cathode 2 and the transparent anode 4 passes through the control and power generation device 10, forming a transmitted solar spectrum energy flow on the light-emitting side.

[0042] Example 2: This embodiment provides a solar spectral energy flow regulation and power generation device with the same structure as Embodiment 1. The difference is that the transparent anode 4 is constructed as a transparent conductive anode structure that has both electron collection and spectral regulation functions. The transparent anode 4 is not only used to receive electrons emitted by the semi-transparent photon-enhanced thermionic emission cathode 2 and export them, but also allows some of the sunlight that is not absorbed by the cathode to pass through and form a transmission spectral energy flow.

[0043] Specifically, the transparent anode 4 includes a transparent conductive layer and a transparent substrate. The transparent conductive layer is a transparent conductive oxide film, an ultrathin metal film, a metal mesh, a transparent conductive mesh, graphene, a carbon nanotube transparent conductive film, or a composite structure thereof. The transparent conductive oxide film includes one or more of ITO, FTO, AZO, GZO, or IZO. The ultrathin metal film includes one or more of Ag, Au, Al, Cu, Ni, or their alloy films.

[0044] The transparent substrate is used to support the transparent conductive layer and maintain the structural strength and light transmittance of the transparent anode 4. The transparent substrate is one or more of the following: quartz glass, fused silica, sapphire, borosilicate glass, transparent ceramic, alumina transparent ceramic, aluminum nitride transparent ceramic, calcium fluoride or magnesium fluoride. The transparent substrate has high transmittance in the target solar spectrum band and can remain stable in high temperature, vacuum, low pressure atmosphere or alkali metal vapor environment.

[0045] By adjusting the structural parameters of the transparent conductive layer, including its material, thickness, refractive index, carrier concentration, grid linewidth, grid period, and aperture ratio, the parasitic absorption and interface reflection of the transmitted solar spectrum by the transparent anode 4 can be reduced, thereby increasing the available transmitted energy flux on the light-emitting side of the device. Simultaneously, the transparent anode 4 can further screen or regulate the transmitted spectrum according to the spectral requirements of subsequent solar energy utilization units, thus achieving synergistic spectral modulation of the semi-transparent cathode and the transparent anode, and improving the overall utilization efficiency of solar energy.

[0046] Example 3: like Figure 5 As shown, this embodiment provides a solar spectral energy flow regulation and power generation device coupled to a subsequent solar energy utilization unit. The structure is the same as in Embodiment 1, except that a solar energy utilization unit 9 is also provided on the light-emitting side of the regulation and power generation device 10. The solar energy utilization unit 9 is disposed on the transmitted light propagation path of the regulation and power generation device 10, and is used to receive the remaining solar spectral energy flow transmitted through the regulation and power generation device 10, and convert it into the form of heat energy, electrical energy, or chemical energy.

[0047] Specifically, the solar energy utilization unit 9 can be one or more of the following: a photothermal utilization unit, a photoelectric conversion unit, a photochemical conversion unit, a thermochemical conversion unit, and an energy storage unit. The photothermal utilization unit is a solar absorber, a particle absorber, a fluid absorber, or other photothermal utilization device; the photoelectric conversion unit is a photovoltaic cell or other photoelectric conversion device; the photochemical conversion unit is a photocatalytic reaction device, a photoelectrochemical reaction device, or other device that uses light energy to drive a chemical reaction; the thermochemical conversion unit is a thermochemical reaction device that uses transmitted sunlight to heat and drive a reaction; and the energy storage unit is a molten salt energy storage unit, a particle thermal storage unit, or other energy storage device.

[0048] During operation, the incident sunlight first illuminates the control and power generation device 10. Part of the sunlight is absorbed by the front-end semi-transparent photon-enhanced thermionic emission device and used for power generation. The remaining solar spectrum passes through the control and power generation device 10 and enters the subsequent solar energy utilization unit 9. Depending on the type of the subsequent solar energy utilization unit 9, it can realize photothermal utilization, photoelectric conversion, photochemical conversion, thermochemical conversion or energy storage utilization.

[0049] Therefore, this embodiment can realize the spectral cascade utilization between front-end power generation and back-end solar energy utilization in the same incident solar energy flow, so that different energy parts in the solar spectrum can be used for power generation, heating, reaction or energy storage processes according to their spectral characteristics and energy quality, thereby improving the comprehensive utilization efficiency of solar energy and reducing the energy loss caused by the absorption of the full spectrum by a single device.

Claims

1. A solar spectral energy flow regulation and power generation device, characterized in that, include: A transparent substrate and a semi-transparent photon-enhanced thermionic emission cathode are sequentially bonded together, wherein the semi-transparent photon-enhanced thermionic emission cathode is configured as a spectrally selective absorption cathode; A translucent photon-enhanced thermionic emission cathode is provided with a transparent anode via a spacer support; The region between the semi-transparent photon-enhanced thermionic emission cathode and the transparent anode is called the interelectrode region, which provides space for electron transport. The semi-transparent photon-enhanced thermionic emission cathode and the transparent anode are connected to an external load.

2. The solar spectral energy flow regulation and power generation device as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The semi-transparent photon-enhanced thermionic emission cathode is a semiconductor thin film, a semiconductor heterojunction thin film, a composite semiconductor thin film, a doped semiconductor thin film, or a surface-modified semiconductor thin film.

3. The solar spectral energy flow regulation and power generation device as described in claim 2, characterized in that, The bandgap, absorption coefficient, film thickness, surface work function, and transmittance of the semi-transparent photon-enhanced thermionic emission cathode material are designed synergistically according to the target power generation current and the target transmission current. The bandgap is used to determine the spectral range that can be absorbed and generate photogenerated carriers. The film thickness and cathode temperature together determine the absorption coefficient, absorption rate, and transmittance for photons of different wavelengths. The surface work function is used to adjust the electron emission barrier. Neglecting material reflection, the wavelength is... λ spectral transmittance τ absorption coefficient α and film thickness d The relationship is: Absorption rate A Represented as: ; The total absorption power of the semi-transparent photon-enhanced thermionic emission cathode is: ,in, λ 1 to λ 2 represents the incident solar spectrum range, and C represents the concentration ratio. I sun ( λ ( ) represents the solar spectral irradiance; the formula for calculating the current density of a semi-transparent photon-enhanced thermionic emission cathode is: ; in, A C Richardson's constant for the cathode. T C The cathode temperature, ϕ C The work function of the cathode surface. n and n eq These are the conduction band electron concentration and the conduction band equilibrium electron concentration, respectively.

4. The solar spectral energy flow regulation and power generation device as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The transparent anode can be a transparent conductive oxide film, an ultrathin metal film, a metal mesh, a transparent conductive mesh, graphene, a carbon nanotube transparent conductive film, or a composite structure thereof.

5. The solar spectral energy flow regulation and power generation device as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The interelectrode region is a vacuum, a low-pressure atmosphere, an inert atmosphere, or an atmosphere containing alkali metal vapor.

6. The solar spectral energy flow regulation and power generation device as described in claim 1, characterized in that, An anti-reflective layer is provided on one side of the light-transmitting substrate.

7. The solar spectral energy flow regulation and power generation device as described in claim 6, characterized in that, An encapsulation structure is provided on the outside of the anti-reflection layer, the light-transmitting substrate, the semi-transparent photon-enhanced thermionic emission cathode, and the transparent anode.

8. The solar spectral energy flow regulation and power generation device as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The light-emitting side of the control and power generation device is also equipped with a solar energy utilization unit. Sunlight enters the solar energy utilization unit through the control device. The solar energy utilization unit is one or more of the following: a photothermal utilization unit, a photoelectric conversion unit, a photochemical conversion unit, a thermochemical conversion unit, and an energy storage unit.

9. The method of operating the solar spectral energy flow regulation and power generation device as described in any one of claims 1-8, characterized in that, The steps are as follows: Sunlight enters from one side of the semi-transparent photon-enhanced thermionic emission cathode. The semi-transparent photon-enhanced thermionic emission cathode selectively absorbs some of the high-energy photons in the solar spectrum, causing photon excitation of electrons within the semi-transparent photon-enhanced thermionic emission cathode. Under the combined effect of thermal excitation, thermionic emission is generated. The emitted electrons pass through the interelectrode region and are collected by the transparent anode. Electrical energy is output through an external load. Sunlight that is not absorbed or reflected by the semi-transparent photon-enhanced thermionic emission cathode and the transparent anode passes through the control and power generation device, forming a transmitted solar spectrum energy flow on the light-emitting side. The transmitted solar spectrum energy flow enters the solar energy utilization unit to achieve energy cascade utilization.

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