论文标题
热载体太阳能电池的单一能量选择性接触的热力学
Thermodynamics of the mono-energetic energy selective Contacts of the hot carrier solar cell
论文作者
论文摘要
热载体太阳能电池（HCSC）具有将太阳能转化为85.4％的电化学的潜力。为此，除了理想化的光吸收器外，HCSC还必须通过所谓的\ emph {mono-Energetic能量选择性接触}（ESC）连接到外部载荷。然而，尚未探索这些类型的接触必须表现出的热力学特性，例如它们的电导率，导热率和Seebeck系数。本文旨在填补这一空白。在这方面，我们使用Datta和Landauer提出的传输理论在非理想的ESC中对电子传输进行建模，这使我们能够计算这些参数的值，这是温度和运行的电化学潜力的函数。我们的发现还表明，为了将HCSC效率保留在82％以上，ESC可能需要以$ 3 \ times 10^{19} $ cm $ $^{ - 3} $电子状态所需的顺序。当ESC偏离理想时，获得最佳效率的热载体的温度将增加到2540 K以上。以最高能量为特征的单声音 - 烯类选择性接触需要电导率，导热率和Seebeck系数，该系数合并为何时以高度热线为单位的MERIT $（ZT \ 8）。我们不知道有任何材料表现出这种功绩，这说明了将HCSC概念付诸实践的困难。相反，我们的工作支持这样的想法，即能够通过单能电子通道以弹道运输电子的材料可以为实现以高$ ZT $为特征的材料提供关键。
The hot carrier solar cell (HCSC) has the potential for converting solar energy into electrochemical energy with an efficiency of 85.4%. For this, in addition to an idealized light absorber, the HCSC has to be connected to the external load by means of the so-called \emph{mono-energetic energy selective contacts} (ESCs). However, the thermodynamic properties that these types of contact have to exhibit, such as their electric, thermal conductivity and Seebeck coefficient, have not been explored. This paper aims to fill this gap. In this respect, we model electron transport in non-ideal ESCs using the transport theory proposed by Datta and Landauer which has allowed us to calculate the value of these parameters as a function of the temperature and electrochemical potential of operation. Our findings also reveal that, to preserve the HCSC efficiency above 82%, the ESCs could require in the order of $3 \times 10^{19}$ cm$^{-3}$ electron states. As the ESCs depart from ideality, the temperature of the hot carriers at which optimum efficiency is obtained increases to above 2540 K. The mono-enenergetic selective contact characterized by the highest energy demands an electric, thermal conductivity and Seebeck coefficient that, when combined, are characterized by a high thermoelectric figure of merit $(ZT\approx 8)$. We are not aware of any material exhibiting this figure of merit which illustrates the difficulty in putting the HCSC concept into practice. Conversely, our work supports the idea that pursuing materials capable of transporting electrons ballistically through mono-energetic electron channels can provide the key for achieving materials characterized by high $ZT$
