Solar Energy Conversion Research Articles

Optically selective catalyst design with minimized thermal emission for facilitating photothermal catalysis

Converting solar energy into fuels is pursued as an attractive route to reduce dependence on fossil fuel. In this context, photothermal catalysis is a very promising approach through converting photons into heat to drive catalytic reactions. There are mainly three key factors that govern the photothermal catalysis performance: maximized solar absorption, minimized thermal emission and excellent catalytic property of catalyst. However, the previous research has focused on improving solar absorption and catalytic performance of catalyst, largely neglected the optimization of thermal emission. Here, we demonstrate an optically selective catalyst based Ti3C2Tx Janus design, that enables minimized thermal emission, maximized solar absorption and good catalytic activity simultaneously, thereby achieving excellent photothermal catalytic performance. When applied to Sabatier reaction and reverse water-gas shift (RWGS) as demonstrations, we obtain an approximately 300% increase in catalytic yield through reducing the thermal emission of catalyst by ~70% under the same irradiation intensity. It is worth noting that the CO2 methanation yield reaches 3317.2 mmol gRu−1 h−1 at light power of 2 W cm−2, setting a performance record among catalysts without active supports. We expect that this design opens up a new pathway for the development of high-performance photothermal catalysts.

Heavy-duty vehicles with solar panels as a regenerative power source

Abstract Road transportation represents more than a third of all CO2-producing sources on Earth, being the main producer of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Nowadays, continuous development of technology has reduced fossil-fuel consumption by integrating clean energy sources as a range extender. Solar energy has the largest potential of all renewable energy sources worldwide. The photovoltaic and energy storage research fields have grown exponentially during the last decade and, forced by the current energy crisis, had a great contribution to the hybrid solar vehicles (HSV) industry. Vehicle Integrated Photovoltaics (VIPV) comply with requirements on vehicles aesthetics, and they convert solar energy into electric energy to supply the low-voltage and high-voltage battery packs onboard HSV. Heavy-load road transportation by commercial vehicles equipped with PV-integrated modules or retrofit installation will contribute to global decarbonization. A study is done on a configuration of a heavy-duty vehicle with its cuboid cargo body covered with solar panels and a regulated driving route during different weather conditions [3]. The energy management system is designed to maximize solar energy conversion in order to reduce fuel consumption and extend the vehicle’s total driving distance.

A Review of Factors Affecting the Efficiency and Output of PV Systems Applied in the Tropical Climate of South-South Nigeria

The increasing adoption of renewable energy for electricity generation has led to a growing application of photovoltaic (PV) systems in residential and commercial settings across Nigeria. This study aims to provide a comprehensive review of the factors affecting the efficiency and output of PV systems applied in the tropical climate of South-South Nigeria. The environmental benefits of PV systems further enhance their appeal as a direct method of converting solar energy into electricity. For remote communities in South-South Nigeria, often disconnected from the national grid, PV systems offer a viable alternative electricity source. However, the efficiency and output of PV systems are significantly influenced by various environmental conditions prevalent in the tropical climate of South-South Nigeria. The methodology employed in this study includes an extensive literature review and analysis of PV system installations in the region. Data was collected from various sources, including journal articles, conference proceedings, and reports, to identify the key factors impacting PV system performance in South-South Nigeria. The findings highlight that high temperatures, humidity levels, frequent dust accumulation, and potential sea salt effects due to coastal proximity are among the critical environmental factors affecting PV system efficiency in this tropical zone. The study concludes that while the region's climate provides advantages for solar energy harvesting, it also presents unique challenges that need to be addressed when implementing PV systems in South-South Nigeria. The authors recommend strategies to mitigate the environmental challenges faced by PV systems in this tropical climate, contributing to the optimization of solar energy utilization in the region.

Applications of Hybrid Organic-inorganic Halide Perovskite Materials

Organic-inorganic halide perovskite materials have garnered significant attention in recent years due to their outstanding optoelectronic properties. Initially recognized for their potential in solar energy conversion, their applications have since expanded to include light-emitting diodes, lasers, and semiconductor devices. This article introduce the characteristics of organic-inorganic halide perovskite materials and discusses the recent findings from the Emerging Materials and Device Laboratory, highlighting their various applications in solar cells and semiconductor devices.

A novel design for conversion and storage of solar thermal energy into electrical energy using a solar thermoelectric device‐coupled supercapacitor

AbstractThe conversion of solar‐thermal (ST) power into electrical power along with its efficient storage represents a crucial and effective approach to address the energy crisis. The thermoelectric (TE) generator can absorb ST power and transform it into electrical energy, making it a highly viable technology to achieve photo‐thermal conversion (PTC). However, the practical application of the pristine TE generator devices on a larger scale is still facing several challenges. On the one hand, the pristine TE generator device has low inherent PTC efficiency, thereby leading to low power conversion. On the other hand, such solar‐thermoelectric (STE) conversion does not provide the functionality of electric energy storage. Herein, an effective strategy has been proposed that employs a CoAl2O4 PTC coating to decorate the pristine TE generator for developing the STE generator device with the remarkable STE performance and then coupling this device with a supercapacitor (SC) for effective storage power. In comparison to the pristine TE generator, the developed STE device exhibited considerable enhancement in both the open‐circuit voltage (Voc) and its maximum power density, displaying more than a 4‐ and 15‐fold improvement, respectively. In addition, the feasibility of coupling this solar‐driven STE generator device in series with a SC for ST conversion and storage was verified, and the working mechanism has been elucidated. This work presents a promising approach to effectively convert and store clean solar power into electrical energy, enabling practical applications of STE generator devices in conjunction with other electrochemical energy storage devices.

Solar energy powered electrochemical reduction of CO2 on In2O3 nanosheets with high energy conversion efficiency at a large current density

Electrochemical CO2 reduction (ECO2R) to value-added chemicals offers a promising approach to both mitigate CO2 emission and facilitate renewable energy conversion. We demonstrate a solar energy powered ECO2R system operating at a relatively large current density (57 mA cm−2) using In2O3 nanosheets (NSs) as the cathode and a commercial perovskite solar cell as the electricity generator, which achieves the high solar to formate energy conversion efficiency of 6.6 %. The significantly enhanced operative current density with a fair solar energy conversion efficiency on In2O3 NSs can be ascribed to their high activity and selectivity for formate production, as well as the fast kinetics for ECO2R. The Faradic efficiencies (FEs) of formate In2O3 NSs are all above 93 %, with the partial current density of formate ranging from 2.3 to 342 mA cm−2 in a gas diffusion flow cell, which is among the widest for formate production on In-based catalysts. In-situ Raman spectroscopy and density functional theory simulations reveal that the exceptional performances of formate production on In2O3 NSs originates from the presence of abundant low coordinated edge sites, which effectively promote the selective adsorption of *OCHO while inhibiting *H adsorption.

CuxS films as photoelectrodes for visible-light water splitting

Copper sulfides are appealing semiconductors for optoelectronics applications requiring visible-light activity, such as solar water splitting, due to their relatively low band gaps and earth-abundance. This study investigates the effect of deposition conditions, including substrate temperature and background gas pressure, on the characteristics and photoelectrochemical performance of copper sulfide (CuxS) films grown by pulsed laser deposition (PLD) on Si (100) substrates. The results reveal that varying the deposition parameters influences the crystalline phases, morphology, and optoelectronic properties of the films. For deposition at room temperature, the films exhibited covellite CuS phase, while elevated deposition temperatures (250 °C and 500 °C) led to the formation of Cu1.8S and Cu2S phases, resulting in narrowing of the band gap, with the increased temperature also enhancing the film crystallinity and surface roughness. As a result of the changes in film morphology and crystal structure, photocurrent density magnitudes increased with higher deposition temperatures, reaching 0.747 mA/cm2 at −0.8 V for films deposited at 500 °C under vacuum, at least an order of magnitude higher than reported in comparable previous studies of the photoelectrochemical performance of CuxS. Background gas pressure only slightly affected the photocurrent density, with changes in photoactivity also correlating with changes in film roughness and band gap. The results demonstrate the good visible-light activity and behavior of CuxS as a stand-alone photoelectrode material, with tunability based on the fabrication conditions, suggesting their potential use in photoelectrochemical and other solar energy conversion applications.

Diffusion Behaviors of CaCl2-NaCl Molten Salt under an Electric Field: A Deep Potential Molecular Dynamics Simulation.

CaCl2-NaCl molten salt is one of the widely used electrolytes, and the effect of the electric field on it needs to be considered in the environment of manufacturing metals and alloys as well as in battery applications. To be closer to the state of the CaCl2-NaCl molten salt system in practical applications, this study uses the training-based deep potential, combined with the ionic structure, to analyze the electric field effects on the drift velocity, ionic mobility, ion diffusion, and viscosity of the CaCl2-NaCl system by molecular dynamics simulations. It is shown that the electric field has a stronger effect on the ion diffusion behavior parallel to the direction of the electric field in the CaCl2-NaCl molten salt system. Due to the looser coordinate structure of Na+, the interaction force between Na-Cl is small compared with that between Ca-Cl. Na+ is easily driven and more sensitive to the electric field, whose drift velocity, ionic mobility, and diffusion coefficient are larger than those of the other two ions, with an order of Na+ > Cl- > Ca2+. All ionic drift velocities increase linearly as electric field intensity increases and the ionic mobilities tend to be constant. The diffusion coefficient parallel to the direction of the electric field exponentially increases and the viscosity tends to exponentially decrease with the increase in the electric field intensity. This work is important for accurately predicting the properties and performance of molten salts and their improvement for applications such as solar thermal energy conversion.

Porous polyselenoviologen with long-lived charge separated states and highly cyclic stability for heterogeneous photocatalytic reaction and hydrogen production

A highly stable heterogeneous photocatalyst, porous polyselenoviologen (POP-SeV2+), was successfully synthesized via SN2 reaction. Compared to the monomer, POP-SeV2+ exhibited strong visible-light absorption, enhanced electron acceptor property, and prolonged lifetime of radical cations. Simultaneously, the femtosecond transient absorption (fs-TA) illustrated that the formation of tetrahedral multi-cationic structure is conducive to the rapid generation of molecular excited states and extending the duration of charge-separated states. Due to its remarkable characteristics, the POP-SeV2+ was employed as a photocatalyst for visible-light-induced cross-dehydrogenative coupling (CDC) reactions with a highly efficient yield (82 %). Additionally, its utilization was further extended to the hydrogen generation, demonstrating remarkable outcomes such as a high rate of H2 generation (300 μmol·h−1·g−1), and an apparent quantum yield (0.13 %). Notably, POP-SeV2+ displayed great stability and reusability in the photocatalytic process, which can distinguish it from those soluble SeV2+-based photocatalysts. The catalytic efficiency of POP-SeV2+ remained virtually unaffected even after undergoing several recycling cycles, which not only achieved the complete heterogeneous photocatalysis of SeV2+-based systems for the first time but also provided a new strategy to improve the application effect of viologen derivatives in solar energy conversion and utilization.

Design and Analysis of the Effect of the Number of Membership Functions on the Accuracy of the Fuzzy Controller in a Sun Tracking System

Purpose: To investigate how the number of rules in the fuzzy controller affects the single-axis solar tracking system's orientation accuracy. Methodology: Design and compare FLC49 and FLC25 controllers, each with different organic rules and functions. To improve the system efficiency by accurately measuring the maximum power point, the controller receives comparison results from the light sensors installed on the solar panels. We study and analyze the controllers, selecting the best one based on the accuracy of the solar panel orientation. Using the FLC output to operate a two-phase SM. Findings: This study developed a sun tracking system using Matlab/Simulink and compared FLC49 and FLC25 controllers. FLC49 performed better in simulations, with lower settling time and overshoot. The number of rules significantly influenced accuracy, and it also showed lower transient ripple magnitudes, accelerating time response. Unique Contribution to Theory, Practice and Policy: The research investigates the effectiveness of rules in a fuzzy controller and recommends the optimal number of windings to achieve precision in controlling a stepper motor. The study explores the use of 49-rule and 25-rule fuzzy logic controllers to control a stepper motor based on LDR sensor inputs. The researchers found that while both controllers had similar steady time error and overshoot, they differed in orientation accuracy, with the 49-roll fuzzy controller being more accurate in orientation. This single-axis solar tracking system optimizes solar energy conversion into electricity.

Interfacial Polymerization Fabricated Polydopamine Capsules as a Step Toward a Photothermal Protocell Model

AbstractPhotothermal is a significant solar energy conversion process on Earth, and photothermal‐responsive protocells are a potential model for prebiotic chemistry. Here, polydopamine microcapsules are fabricated via emulsion droplets‐templated interfacial polymerization and investigated their potential as synthetic protocell models for photothermal conversion and utilization. DNAzyme‐mediated dopamine peroxidation and polymerization occur at the water/oil interface of the emulsion droplets, facilitated by a biphasic microfluidic technique, leading to the formation of uniform polydopamine microcapsules, which retain structural integrity upon transfer into a continuous water phase. These microcapsules exhibit size‐dependent semi‐permeability and high photothermal capability due to their broad spectral absorbance. The photothermal‐mediated temperature rise within the microcapsules triggers DNA denaturation and rearrangement, and intermittent photothermal irradiation modulates reversible phase separation of DNA condensates, mimicking membrane‐less organelles. This work suggests that interfacial polymerization fabricated polydopamine capsules are a plausible photothermal protocell model that can demonstrate aspects of primitive abiotic cellularity.

Construction of core-shell W18O49@ZnIn2S4 hollow hierarchical structure for boosted photothermal-assisted photocatalytic H2 production

The development of photocatalysts that maximize the utilization of the solar spectrum is crucial to achieving efficient photocatalysis. Herein, the synthesized W18O49@ZnIn2S4 hollow hierarchical structure exhibits superior photothermal-assisted hydrogen (H2) photocatalytic performance under full solar spectrum irradiation. Within this photocatalyst design framework, the use of hollow spherical W18O49 exploits the Localized Surface Plasmon Resonance (LSPR) effect, resulting in increased light absorption. This imparts additional energy to photogenerate carriers through ZnIn2S4, expediting charge migration and elevating the temperature of the reaction system, consequently facilitating the separation of carriers. Notably, the optimized WO(16h)@ZIS-10 sample shows impressive hydrogen evolution rates of 3.11 mmol g−1 under sunlight exposure and 4.98 mmol g−1 h−1 under composite illumination of AM 1.5G and near-infrared (NIR). Additionally, the study explores the impact of different heating methods on photocatalytic activity in solid-liquid reactions, providing valuable insights into effective solar energy conversion through high-activity solar-assisted photocatalysts.

Advancements in CIGS/ZnS heterojunction solar cells: Experimental and numerical analysis

This study presents a comprehensive experimental investigation conducted on a CIGS-based solar cell incorporating a ZnS buffer layer. The primary objective was to determine key parameters of the CIGS/ZnS heterojunction, including parasitic resistances (Rs and Rsh), ideality factor (n), and barrier height (ϕB), using experimental current-voltage (I-V) characteristics over a temperature range of 150 K to 300 K under dark conditions. The heterojunction was modelled using a single-diode electrical circuit that accounted for parasitic resistances. Two methods were employed for parameter determination: direct analysis of the (I-V) curves and Cheung's method. Additionally, the charge transport mechanism within the heterojunction is investigated and discussed. Furthermore, the performance of the Al:ZnO/i:ZnO/ZnS/CIGS/Mo solar cell was assessed using the SCAPS-1D simulator, demonstrating an initial solar energy conversion efficiency of 15.01 %. To enhance this efficiency, a hole transport layer (HTL) was integrated between the back electrode and the absorber layer. Extensive studies were conducted to optimize the thickness and doping density of the HTL, including a comparative analysis of different materials used as HTLs. These optimizations resulted in a significant increase in conversion efficiency, reaching up to 28.68 %.

Hydrophobic composite phase change coating: Preparation, performance and application

The utilization of composite phase change materials in energy storage and solar thermal applications is significantly restrained by their inherent non-hydrophobic surfaces and susceptibility to contamination. This study presents a novel synthesis of modified paraffin (Pa) @ silica (SiO2) nanocapsules through an efficient in situ hydrolysis and polycondensation reaction utilizing tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS) as the silicon source, paraffin as the phase change material, and hexamethyldisilazane (HMDS) as the surface modifier. These nanocapsules were then employed to formulate a composite phase change coating (PSC-1) by spraying onto a substrate of lithium silicate (Li2SiO3), a green inorganic binder. This coating combines self-cleaning and energy storage functionalities. The thermal characterization of PSC-1 revealed an enthalpy of phase transition of 92.95 J/g at a core-shell ratio of 1.5:1 and an HMDS to TEOS volume ratio of 1:1. Additionally, the thermal conductivity of PSC-1 was measured at 0.505 W/m∙K, which is approximately 53 % higher than that of pure paraffin. PSC-1 also demonstrated superior hydrophobicity, with a static water contact angle of 132.6°. Enhancing its practicality, the coating was subsequently dyed black and assessed for photothermal conversion efficiency, which was determined to be around 68 %. The integration of robust self-cleaning properties and high-efficiency thermal characteristics renders PSC-1 a highly promising material for broad applications in solar energy conversion and storage.

In situ structural determination of cyanobacterial phycobilisome–PSII supercomplex by STAgSPA strategy

Photosynthesis converting solar energy to chemical energy is one of the most important chemical reactions on earth. In cyanobacteria, light energy is captured by antenna system phycobilisomes (PBSs) and transferred to photosynthetic reaction centers of photosystem II (PSII) and photosystem I (PSI). While most of the protein complexes involved in photosynthesis have been characterized by in vitro structural analyses, how these protein complexes function together in vivo is not well understood. Here we implemented STAgSPA, an in situ structural analysis strategy, to solve the native structure of PBS–PSII supercomplex from the cyanobacteria Arthrospira sp. FACHB439 at resolution of ~3.5 Å. The structure reveals coupling details among adjacent PBSs and PSII dimers, and the collaborative energy transfer mechanism mediated by multiple super-PBS in cyanobacteria. Our results provide insights into the diversity of photosynthesis-related systems between prokaryotic cyanobacteria and eukaryotic red algae but are also a methodological demonstration for high-resolution structural analysis in cellular or tissue samples.

Porphyrin-based nanoporous materials for photocatalytic applications

Alongside the unique photophysical properties, porphyrin derivatives play key roles in light harvesting of photosynthetic organisms. Due to their symmetrical structure, porphyrin derivatives serve as excellent building blocks for various porous materials, encompassing metal-organic frameworks, covalent organic frameworks, hydrogen-bonded organic frameworks, and amorphous porous organic polymers. These materials capitalize on the beneficial characteristics of porphyrins, such as their absorption capabilities, redox activity, and coordination chemistry, while leveraging the surface area and porosity inherent in porous frameworks. Porphyrin-based porous materials are explored for diverse applications including gas storage, energy storage, catalysis, separation, sensing, and environmental remediation. Owing to their excellent photophysical properties, these nanoporous materials are suitable for light harvesting and photocatalysis applications. This review emphasizes the potential of artificial light-harvesting catalysts based on porphyrin-based porous materials for solar energy applications. Researchers aim to optimize material properties and design innovative architectures to enhance performance in solar energy conversion and photocatalytic applications, making this a rapidly evolving field. Specific applications discussed in the review include photocatalytic CO2 reduction, photocatalytic water splitting, and perspectives on future developments in the field of porphyrin-based nanoporous materials for artificial light harvesting.

Multiple strategies enhance visible-light photocatalytic degradation levofloxacin of Fe-doped MOF/AgCl Z-scheme heterojunction composites based on pyrazole carboxylic ligand

The construction of visible-light catalysts to degrade water pollutants is significant in environmental governance and solar energy conversion. In this work, a novel Zn-MOF with unsaturated coordination sites was constructed using 1-(Carboxymethyl)-pyrazole-4-carboxylic acid as the organic ligand. Its crystal structure was studied through single crystal X-ray diffraction. To enhance visible light catalytic performance, ZnFe-MOF/AgCl-x Z-scheme heterojunction composites were constructed. The optimized ZnFe-MOF/AgCl-50 material exhibits excellent photocatalytic performance, which can degrade 90.33 % of levofloxacin in 21 min. The results indicate that Fe doping and the construction of the ZnFe-MOF/AgCl-x Z-scheme heterojunction not only broaden the responsive range to visible light, but also effectively promote the internal and interfacial charges transfer efficiency, leading to a superior catalytic performance. In addition, the Ag nanoparticles (NPs) generated during the photocatalytic process can serve as a bridge, achieving rapid charge transfer in Z-scheme heterojunction. This work can offer an innovative perspective for the development of novel and efficient MOF-based Z-scheme heterojunction photocatalysts for wastewater treatment applications.

Technical-economic analysis and optimization of multiple effect distillation system by solar energy conversion as the heat source

The utilization of multi-effect distillation (MED) in thermal desalination processes is more widespread owing to lower energy consumption. The focus of this paper is to optimize the performance of MED through process optimization. It aims to identify the optimal operating conditions that result in maximum water and power production. Additionally, it investigates the potential of using solar renewable energy as a substitute for the current fossil energy source. Subsequently, a switch to solar energy was made with a focus on an economically viable approach. The research explored the best-suited collector and fluid for heat transfer among the 8 types of molten salt for use in the collector. Subsequently, an economic and sensitivity analysis was conducted using this procedure. The outcomes indicated that by enhancing the stated procedure, it was found that 27.93 Megawatt (MW) of heat would be required when 6938 ton/h of natural gas are burned. Additionally, the 4-effect MED process produced 6.123 MW of electricity and 116.5 cubic meters per hour (m3/h) of freshwater. The gain output ratio (GOR) of the process saw an uptick from 2.75 to 3.328, whereas MED efficiency showed progress from 13.76 to 49.218 %. The parabolic trough collector (PTC) collector outperforms the linear Fresnel collector (LFC) and solar dish (SD) collector in terms of efficiency among other results. To store heat for the rest of the day and night and supply thermal energy for the entire process, 155,542 square meters (m2) of this collector are necessary. Additionally, in regards to the thermal fluid of the PTC collector, coastal chemical registered heat transfer salt (HITEC salt), a commercial mixture of solar salt, has exhibited superior performance over other molten salts (for a total expenditure of 50 million dollars over two decades). In addition, the economic analysis has indicated a return rate of 32.46 % for the investment and a capital recovery period of 3.08 years for the process. The implementation of the mentioned process in renewable mode results in the avoidance of 18.5 tons per hour (ton/h) of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions.

Characteristics of solar to hydrogen-rich fuel production integrating parabolic trough collectors with partially rotatable tracking strategies

To achieve carbon neutrality, hydrogen and solar energy are receiving increasing attention. Concentrated solar thermal energy by parabolic trough collectors can be used to drive methanol cracking reactions for distributed hydrogen-rich syngas production. In this scenario, the collector is characterized by its small size and easy to integrate with hydrogen utilization equipment. However, parabolic trough collectors use a single-axis strategy with inherent large cosine loss, resulting in a low annual efficiency. The partially rotatable tracking is an advanced tracking strategy, which considers the trade-off between performance and cost compared to double-axis tracking strategies, and shows great potential for applications in distributed solar thermochemical reactions. In this study, solar to hydrogen-rich fuel production integrating parabolic trough collectors with the partially rotatable tracking strategy is proposed. The effect of the partially rotatable tracking strategy on the solar thermochemical conversion of methanol cracking is revealed. An annual normalized optical improvement of 40%∼54% is realized over a latitude range of 0∼50° by means of an optimal daily rotation angle. The solar thermochemical reactor with the partially rotatable tracking strategy has the less irreversibility loss during the concentrating process and the higher thermochemical efficiency. The results show that in three Chinese cities (Beijing, Lhasa and Guangzhou) with different latitudes and irradiation conditions, a partial north-south rotation strategy yields an additional 17.42%, 11.62% and 6.22% of chemical energy per year from the sun, while a partial east-west rotation strategy yields an additional 14.91%, 19.35% and 15.37% per year from the sun. The encouraging results indicate a promising method for the effective conversion of solar energy to chemical energy of hydrogen-rich fuels.

Tunable electrical/thermal output performance of the PV/T system with magnetic nanofluid based spectral beam filter

The photovoltaic/thermal systems with magnetic nanofluid based spectral beam filter would achieve thermal decoupling and utilize the full spectrum to minimize energy loss. The prepared Fe3O4 magnetic nanofluid was introduced into this system as selective absorbing fluid filter. An external magnetic field was added to manipulate the distribution behavior of nanoparticles that affect the optical characteristics of magnetic nanofluids could meet the various application requirements for electrical/thermal output of the photovoltaic/thermal system. The optical properties of magnetic nanofluid with various nanoparticle distribution behaviors under the varying magnetic field were tested by UV–visible spectrophotometric and Finite-Difference Time-Domain simulated respectively. Furthermore, the effect of magnetic nanoparticle concentration and magnetic field strength on the electrical/thermal output performance of the photovoltaic/thermal system was studied. The results show the higher nanoparticle concentration enhances the thermal output of the system but reduces the electrical output, accompanied by a significant reduction in the surface temperature of the cell. Both photothermal and photovoltaic conversion efficiencies are increased below 100mT magnetic field due to the transmission in the response spectrum of monocrystalline silicon cell increase under the formation of chain structure of the nanoparticles. It is concluded that the photothermal, photovoltaic, and total solar energy conversion efficiencies are respectively 59.82%, 13.98%, and 73.75% at 0.0025 wt% concentration under 100 mT magnetic fields, and its function of merit value was increased by 109% compared to the system without spectral beam filter.