Lossless hybridization between photovoltaic and thermoelectric devices

The optimal hybridization of photovoltaic (PV) and thermoelectric (TE) devices has long been considered ideal for the efficient harnessing solar energy. Our hybrid approach uses full spectrum solar energy via lossless coupling between PV and TE devices while collecting waste energy from thermalization and transmission losses from PV devices. Achieving lossless coupling makes the power output from the hybrid device equal to the sum of the maximum power outputs produced separately from individual PV and TE devices. TE devices need to have low internal resistances enough to convey photo-generated currents without sacrificing the PV fill factor. Concomitantly, a large number of p-n legs are preferred to drive a high Seebeck voltage in TE. Our simple method of attaching a TE device to a PV device has greatly improved the conversion efficiency and power output of the PV device (similar to 30% at a 15 degrees C temperature gradient across a TE device).This work was supported by the Pioneer Research Center Program through the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF, No. 2009-0083007) and by the NRF grant (No. 2011-0028604) funded by the Ministry of Science, ICT & Future Planning (MSIP). This work was also supported by the Human Resources Development program of the Korea Institute of Energy Technology Evaluation and Planning (KETEP) grant funded by the Korea government Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy (No. 20124030200130)