Thermal–Photovoltaic Hybrid Solar Generator Using Thin-Film Thermoelectric Modules

Abstract

We fabricated thin-film thermoelectric modules for thermal–photovoltaic hybrid solar generator. Bi0.5Sb1.5Te3 (p-type) and Bi2Te2.7Se0.3 (n-type) thermoelectric thin films were deposited by radio-frequency magnetron sputtering method and patterned to form plane-type thermoelectric modules using lift-off technique. The hybrid module consisted of the thin-film thermoelectric module, a photovoltaic module, a hot mirror, and a near-infrared (NIR) focusing lens. NIR light, which does not contribute to photovoltaic conversion, was separated from solar light using the hot mirror. When the NIR light was focused onto the hot side of the thermoelectric module by the lens, the open voltage generated by the thin-film thermoelectric generator was 78 mV. The total open voltage of the thermal–photovoltaic hybrid generator increased by 1.3% compared to that of the photovoltaic module alone.