2/8/16
You are invited to attend a lecture
Performance analysis of a photon-enhanced thermionic emission solar converter with a GaInP based cathode
By:
Amit Shaked
M.Sc student under supervision of Prof. Abraham Kribus and Prof. Yossi Rosenwaks
Abstract
A solar converter based on photon-enhanced thermionic emission (PETE) with a GaInP cathode was simulated in detail including realistic structure and material properties. The model describes the cathode absorber with front and back barrier layers, the behavior of space charge in the inter-electrode gap, and spatially distributed generation, bulk recombination, and surface recombination effects. Experimentally measured values of crucial material properties as a function of temperature were used to represent the realistic behavior of the device. Results show a large variation of predicted conversion efficiency as a function of the anode work function and the cathode’s emitter surface electron affinity. The sunlight concentration and cathode temperature required for optimal efficiency also vary greatly. For the most optimistic surface property values the converter efficiency is about 13%. Major issues that limit the efficiency are: the high bandgap leading to high transmission loss, the limited operation temperature permitted for the cathode material, and the sharp reduction in cathode SRH lifetime with increasing temperature.
On Tuesday, August 2nd , 2016, 13:00
Room 105, Porter School of Environmental Studies
