Researchers from multiple U.S. universities have collaborated to create a groundbreaking thermo-optical system that could potentially boost solar cell efficiency to an impressive 80%. The study, published in *Nature Communications* on October 16, introduces a novel approach to harnessing solar energy more effectively.
Traditional silicon-based solar cells only capture infrared light, while most of the visible and high-energy light is lost as heat. Although theoretical efficiency limits for these cells are around 34%, real-world performance remains stuck between 15% and 20% due to energy losses. This has long been a major bottleneck in solar technology.
To address this challenge, a team from Stanford University, the University of Illinois, and North Carolina State University has developed a new thermo-optical system. According to Professor Fan Yan from Stanford’s Electrical Engineering Department, the key lies in focusing sunlight into a narrow spectral range that solar cells can efficiently convert into electricity. If achieved, this could push solar conversion efficiency up to 80%.
Unlike conventional systems, the new design first concentrates sunlight into infrared wavelengths before converting it into electricity. The system includes an intermediate component: an absorber that heats up under sunlight, and a transmitter that converts the heat into infrared light, which then powers the solar cell.
A critical part of the process is maintaining the nanostructure of the materials used, especially at high temperatures. In early trials, tungsten emitters—used to generate infrared light—collapsed when heated to about 1,000°C. To solve this, researchers from the University of Illinois coated the tungsten with cerium dioxide, a ceramic material. This allowed the emitter to remain stable at 1,000°C for 12 hours and even at 1,400°C for one hour.
This marks the first time ceramic materials have been proven effective in thermo-optoelectronics, with potential applications in waste heat recovery, high-temperature catalysis, and energy storage. Scientists are now exploring other ceramic options to find the best emitters for solar cells.
With abundant and low-cost resources like thallium and tungsten, the manufacturing process for heat-resistant emitters is already well-established. Researchers believe this breakthrough will significantly advance the field of thermo-optoelectronics and encourage further exploration of ceramic materials in renewable energy technologies. (Reporter: He Wei)
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