Layered TPV Front Window for Low Recombination and Light Loss
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing III/V photovoltaic and thermophotovoltaic devices face challenges in reducing carrier recombination in absorber layers due to the limitations of doping in the front window layer, which affects absorber quality and passivation, and there is a need for a thinner front window to minimize light absorption losses.
Innovation Solution
A layered front window structure is introduced, comprising a highly-doped outer layer and a lower-doped inner layer, with specific doping concentrations and bandgap properties to facilitate efficient carrier transport and selective contact configurations, enhancing the performance of thermophotovoltaic devices.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If the front window layer is made thinner to reduce light absorption losses, then light transmission improves, but carrier recombination increases due to insufficient passivation
Solution Approach 1:
The front window is divided into multiple layers with different doping concentrations. The outer layer has higher doping (5×10^18 to 1×10^19 cm^-3) for better passivation, while the inner layer has lower doping (1×10^17 to 1×10^18 cm^-3) to reduce recombination. This segmentation allows each layer to optimize its function independently.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the front window are assigned different doping concentrations based on their functional requirements. The outer layer near the contact requires high doping for passivation, while the inner layer adjacent to the absorber requires low doping to minimize carrier recombination. This local quality differentiation resolves the contradiction between passivation and recombination reduction.
2Length of moving object
If doping concentration in the front window is increased to enable thinner window, then window thickness reduces, but absorber quality degrades
Solution Approach 1:
The front window is segmented into outer and inner layers with distinct doping concentrations. The outer layer can be highly doped to achieve thinness, while the inner layer maintains lower doping to protect absorber quality. This segmentation decouples the conflicting requirements of window thickness and absorber quality.
Solution Approach 2:
The inner front window layer acts as an intermediary between the highly doped outer layer and the absorber. It buffers the potential degradation effects of high doping on the absorber while still allowing the outer layer to provide the necessary passivation and thinness. This intermediary layer protects absorber quality while enabling window thinning.
3Length of moving object
If doping concentration in the front window is increased to enable thinner window, then front window thickness reduces, but passivation quality degrades
Solution Approach 1:
The front window is divided into outer and inner layers, each optimized for different functions. The outer layer has high doping concentration (5×10^18 to 1×10^19 cm^-3) specifically for providing excellent passivation at the contact interface, while the inner layer has lower doping to maintain other performance characteristics. This segmentation allows passivation quality to be optimized independently of window thickness.
Solution Approach 2:
High doping concentration is applied locally only in the outer layer where passivation is most critical near the contact. The inner layer maintains lower doping throughout. This local quality approach ensures passivation quality is maximized at the critical interface without compromising overall device performance through excessive doping throughout the entire window structure.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The layered front window design improves carrier transport and reduces recombination, leading to enhanced electrical power generation efficiency and absorber quality in thermophotovoltaic devices.
Implementation Method 1
the thermophotovoltaic absorber has a first side configured to receive electromagnetic radiation radiated from a thermal source and generate electricity from the received electromagnetic radiation
Implementation Method 2
The front window can include an outer front window layer and an inner front window layer, wherein the inner front window layer is positioned between the outer front window layer and the first side of the thermophotovoltaic absorber such that electromagnetic radiation travels through the front window before reaching the first side of the thermophotovoltaic absorber
Data Source
AI summary
A layered window in thermophotovoltaic (TPV) devices is disclosed herein. The device may include two or more front window layers, including an outer front window layer nearest the light source that is thin and highly doped and a lower doped inner front window layer nearest a TPV absorber layer. In some embodiments, there may be additional front window layers between the outer front window layer and the inner front window layer. In some embodiments, the TPV device also may include a front contact, a back contact, and other components.