Thermoplasmonic and Photothermal Metamaterials for Solar Energy Applications

Sunlight is one of the Earth's clean and sustainable natural energy resources, and extensive studies are conducted on the conversion of solar energy into electricity using photovoltaic (PV) devices. However, single‐junction PV devices cannot break the theoretical efficiency limit known as the S...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Advanced optical materials 2018-09, Vol.6 (18), p.n/a
Main Authors: Shin, Dongheok, Kang, Gumin, Gupta, Prince, Behera, Saraswati, Lee, Hyungsuk, Urbas, Augustine M., Park, Wounjhang, Kim, Kyoungsik
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Clean energy
Cooling
Desalination
Energy sources
Materials science
Metamaterials
Optics
Photothermal conversion
Photovoltaic cells
Physical properties
Solar cells
Solar energy
Solar energy conversion
Solar heating
solar steam generation
solar thermophotovoltaics
thermal upconversion
Thermophotovoltaics
thermoplasmonics
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Summary:Sunlight is one of the Earth's clean and sustainable natural energy resources, and extensive studies are conducted on the conversion of solar energy into electricity using photovoltaic (PV) devices. However, single‐junction PV devices cannot break the theoretical efficiency limit known as the Shockley–Queisser limit that is caused by the sub‐bandgap transmission and heat dissipation losses in semiconductors. Solar thermal conversion approaches may provide an alternative way to exceed this limit and enable more efficient use of solar light than that in PV devices. Recently, spectrally or thermally engineered metamaterials have attracted considerable attention for solar energy applications because of their excellent physical properties. The recent research progress in the development of these photothermal and thermoplasmonic metamaterials, along with their promising applications in solar thermophotovoltaics, radiative cooling, and solar desalination, is discussed. Engineered thermoplasmonic and photothermal metamaterials promise a future for solar energy. Due to their strong absorption, high emissivity, and unprecedented heat dissipation properties, they emerge as a powerful platform for various solar energy applications such as solar thermophotovoltaics, radiative cooling, and solar steam generations. Here, the brief history and the recent research progress in the relevant field are covered.
ISSN:2195-1071
2195-1071
DOI:10.1002/adom.201800317