Solar Energy Conversion Applications Research Articles

First-principle simulation of inorganic Na2CuSbX6 (X = Cl, Br, I) halides for photovoltaic and energy conversion applications

The exceptional flexibility of optoelectronic attributes exhibited by inorganic Na2CuSbX6 (X = Cl, Br, I) halides has sparked significant interest in recent research. Our approach involves the utilization of Wien2k and BoltzTrap coding to scrutinize the mechanical, thermoelectric and optoelectronic attributes of studied halides. Structural stability have been investigated through Born stability criteria employing generalized gradient approximation (GGA-PBEsol). In addition, negative formation energy (−2.15 eV for Cl-halide, −1.88 eV for Br-halide and −1.68 eV for I-halide) indicate all halides are thermo-dynamical stable. For accurate calculation of optoelectronic properties, modified Becke and Johnson (mBJ) potential has been employed. Band structure indicate all halides are semiconductor with indirect bandgap nature having bandgap values 1.7 eV for Cl-halide, 1.34 eV for Br-halide and 0.85 eV for I-halide respectively. Substituting Cl-halide with Br and I-halide results in enhanced optical absorption predominantly in the visible region, causing a shift in the absorption edge from visible light to IR. Further, electronic thermoelectric properties are discussed against temperature 300 K to 800 K. The computed higher Seebeck coefficient observed in Na2CuSbI6 suggests that a narrower band gap is more suitable for thermoelectric applications in comparison to Na2CuSbBr6 and Na2CuSbCl6. In a broader context, the computational analysis of thermoelectric and optical properties indicates that Li2CuSbX6 halides is generally well suited for use in solar cell devices and energy conversion applications.

Nonconjugated Polymers Enabled Solar Water Oxidation.

Wholly distinct from conjugated polymers which are featured by generic charge transfer capability stemming from a conjugated molecular structure, solid nonconjugated polymers mediated charge transport has long been deemed as theoretically impossible because of the deficiency of π electrons along the molecular skeleton, thereby retarding their widespread applications in solar energy conversion. Herein, we first conceptually unveil that intact encapsulation of metal oxides (e.g., TiO2, WO3, Fe2O3, and ZnO) with an ultrathin nonconjugated polyelectrolyte of branched polyethylenimine (BPEI) can unexpectedly accelerate the unidirectional charge transfer to the active sites and foster the defect generation, which contributes to the boosted charge separation and prolonged charge lifetime, ultimately resulting in considerably improved photoelectrochemical (PEC) water oxidation activities. The interfacial charge transport origins endowed by BPEI adornment are elucidated, which include acting as a hole-withdrawing mediator, promoting vacancy generation, and stimulating the directional charge flow route. We additionally ascertain that such charge transport characteristics of BPEI are universal. This work would unlock the charge transfer capability of nonconjugated polymers for solar water oxidation. The nonconjugated insulating polymer was utilized as a charge transport mediator for boosting charge migration and separation over metal oxides toward solar water oxidation.

Solar energy broadband capturing by metamaterial absorber based on titanium metal.

In recent years, the exploration of solar absorbers has grown in favor due to the scarcity of energy. Here, we propose an absorber with an array of a circular ring surrounding disk (RSD) for solar energy capture. The novel structure keeps above 93.5% absorption with an average absorption of 96.95% in wavelengths from 300 to 4000nm. Meanwhile, the proposed absorber is advantageous in that the structure is generalizable to other metals and dielectric materials. Furthermore, the data results show that the absorber has polarization-independent properties as well as maintaining >90% absorption in the considered wavelength range up to an incidence angle of 52° and >95% absorption at large process tolerances. Finally, the excellent absorption under the AM1.5 solar spectrum demonstrates the RSDabsorber's ability to capture solar energy. These results show the potential of the absorber for applications in electromagnetic invisibility cloaking, thermal emitters, and solar energy capture and conversion.

Novel MoS2/montmorillonite hybrid aerogel encapsulated PEG as composite phase change materials with superior solar-thermal energy harvesting and storage

Phase change materials (PCMs) offer significant advantages in energy conversion and storage by facilitating the storage and release of thermal energy during phase transition processes. However, challenges such as leakage during PCM phase transitions and poor light absorption properties have constrained their application in the field of photothermal energy storage. In this study, Montmorillonite (Mt) and molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) has been used to design and synthesize hybrid aerogels (MoS2/Mt) boasting high mechanical strength and excellent photothermal conversion performance. These aerogels are then used to encapsulate polyethylene glycol (PEG) to prepare composite PCMs with outstanding solar-thermal conversion and storage performances. The results show that the synthesized MoS2/Mt-PEG composite PCMs exhibit high enthalpies of melting and solidification of 169.16 J/g and 170.78 J/g, respectively, while the aerogel supporting material has a high compressive modulus of 1.96 MPa. Moreover, the composite material displayed excellent thermal stability and leakage resistance after undergoing 30 melting-cooling cycles. Furthermore, the incorporation of MoS2 imparted outstanding light absorption properties to the MoS2/Mt-PEG composite, resulting in a high light absorption and photothermal conversion-storage efficiency of 93.4 % and 96.47 %, respectively. Synthesized composite PCMs also demonstrate outstanding performance in solar-thermal-electricity conversion, achieving a voltage output of 458 mV under illumination conditions and maintaining a sustainable voltage output even after removing the light source. Thus, the composite PCMs prepared in this work can meet the requirements of high enthalpy, effective leakage prevention, efficient solar-thermal conversion and solar-thermal-electricity conversion performance, thereby presenting potential applications in practical solar energy collection, conversion, and storage.

Chlorophyl-Passivated Ytterbium-Doped Perovskite Quantum-Cutting Film for High-Performance Solar Energy Conversion and Near-Infrared Light-Emitting Diode Applications.

The quantum cutting ytterbium (Yb3+)-doped CsPbX3 (X = Cl, Cl, or Br) nanocrystals, exhibiting photoluminescence quantum yields (PLQYs) exceeding 100%, hold significant promise for applications in solar energy conversion technologies and near-infrared (NIR) light-emitting diodes (LEDs). This work investigates the usage of chlorophyll (CHL), a naturally existing organic pigment, as an efficient molecular passivator to improve the performance of quantum cutting films. With the assistance of CHL, the resultant perovskite film displays an increased PLQY of 176%. The commercial silicon solar cells (SSCs) with CHL-treated perovskite films demonstrate a remarkable photon-to-current conversion efficiency improvement of 1.83% for a 330.15 cm2 area SSC device. Additionally, a CHL-modified Yb3+:CsPbCl3 film was used to create 988 nm NIR LEDs with an external quantum efficiency of 3.2%. This work provides a new, eco-friendly approach for producing high-quality, large-area Yb3+-doped perovskite film for deployment in photoelectric and night vision applications.

Optimizing Photovoltaic Efficiency Through Di-Indium Tri-Selenide Thin Film Solar Cells

This study focuses on investigating the photovoltaic efficiency of chemically deposited In2Se3 thin films for solar energy conversion. Thin film solar cells have several advantages, including reduced material usage, cost-effectiveness, and the potential for improved efficiency. Our research specifically explores the viability of chemically deposited In2Se3 thin films for converting solar energy into electrical energy through chemical processes. The photovoltaic (PV) cell configuration consists of In2Se3 thin films as the photoanode and a sulfide-polysulphide (0.15 M) solution as the electrolyte. The structure of the cell is n-In2Se3 | NaOH (0.15 M)+ S (0.15 M)+Na2S (0.15 M) |C (graphite). To comprehensively analyze the performance of the thin films, we employ various characterization techniques. These include studying the current-voltage characteristics under both dark and light conditions, capacitance–voltage in the dark, barrier height measurements, power output analysis, photo response evaluation, and spectrum response examinations. Through these analyses, we have discovered that In2Se3 exhibits n-type conductivity. Noteworthy results include a junction ideality factor of 3.43, a flat band potential of −0.680 V, and a barrier height of 0.193 eV. The power output characteristics provide crucial insights into the performance of the PV cell. We measured the open circuit voltage, short circuit current, fill factor, efficiency, and photo response lighted ideality factor, which were found to be 320 mV, 25.4 μA, 36.46%, 0.69%, and 2.56, respectively. This research significantly contributes to our understanding of the photovoltaic efficiency of di-indium tri-selenide thin film solar cells. It offers valuable insights for optimizing their performance in solar energy conversion applications.

Integrative role of PEDOT: PSS in adjusting the photoresponse efficiency of novel reduced graphene quantum dots/silicon heterojunction for optoelectronics and solar energy conversion applications

The urgent need to realize high-efficiency solar cells and photodetectors for commercially available production, considering the cheap price of their preparation, inspired us to apply quantization technology to graphene particles. Therefore, we reported here for the first time manipulating and boosting the photoelectrical performance of the designed rGO-QDs/p-Si heterojunction using PEDOT:PSS interlayer. The structural properties of the employed rGO-QDs (average size ∼ 2 nm) and PEDOT:PSS thin films have been investigated individually using XRD, Raman, and TEM, while the optical properties have been spectrophotometrically inspected. The values of the energy gap and dispersion parameters of each film have been estimated. Toward exploiting the prepared devices in solar cell applications, after analysis of the measured electrical properties, we concluded that the presence of the PEDOT:PSS layer between the two layers of the device led to a significant improvement in the photovoltaic characteristics with Voc ∼ 0.807 Vs, Jsc ∼ 25.76 mA/cm2, FF ∼ 42.49 %, and PCE ∼ 8.83 %. In addition, on the scale of photodetection capability, the PEDOT:PSS modified device achieved outstanding performance with high responsivity (0.84 A/W), external quantum efficiency (196 %), detectivity (1.62 × 1011 cm.Hz0.5/W) and fast on/off switching behavior of 23/15.2 ms as rise/fall time. Such findings reveal an original indirect scenario about the superior photovoltaic and photodetection behavior of the implemented devices suggesting them strongly for efficient optoelectronics and solar cell applications.

Enhanced solar absorbance and infrared emittance in Co-doped BaTiO3

Broadband absorber materials with high solar absorptivity and infrared emissivity are conducive to high-efficient and cost-effective heating technology in the civil and industrial field. The BaTi1-xCoxO3 ceramics are prepared by sol-gel method, showing mixed tetragonal/hexagonal phases. Co doping slightly reduces the phase transition temperature of BaTiO3. Meanwhile, BaTi1-xCoxO3 ceramics present a composite Mott/charge transform band nature and the Co-3d impurity level and oxygen vacancies level lead to a narrowed bandgap. The enhancement of the absorption induced by free carriers, impurity level and lattice vibration promote the UV-Vis-NIR absorption and mid-infrared radiation of BaTi1-xCoxO3 ceramics. In conclusion, the optimized BaTi0.95Co0.05O3 ceramic achieves a high solar absorptivity (0.88) in 0.25–2.5 µm and a high infrared emissivity (0.83) in 8–14 µm. The radiative performance presents good temperature stability, unaffected by phase structure and lattice thermal expansion, which provides prospective applications in solar energy conversion and infrared radiation heating.

First principle investigation of structural, electronic, optical and thermoelectric properties of Chalcogenide Sr2GeX4(X=S, Se)

The electronic and optical properties of ternary-type chalcogenides are of great interest for solar energy conversion applications. In this study, we investigated the optical, electronic, and transport properties of Sr2GeX4 (X = S and Se) materials using first-principles calculations based on density functional theory. We found that these materials have a robust covalent bond nature and substantial band gaps. The density of states calculations revealed that the Sr-s and Ge-s states play a predominant role, while the S-s and S-p states have a minor influence. The optical properties of the materials are anisotropic, and they have significant UV absorption. The positive Seebeck coefficient values suggest that holes are the primary charge carriers in both materials. The study also discussed various other crucial thermoelectric parameters, which collectively suggest the suitability of these materials for thermoelectric applications. Overall, this study provides valuable insights into the optoelectronic and thermoelectric properties of Sr2GeX4 materials, which could significantly contribute to the development of efficient optoelectronic devices.

A multifunctional switching bidirectional optical absorber based on a titanium nitride metamaterial.

In this paper, a novel type of tunable ultra-wide band and double-narrow band artificial electromagnetic absorption device is studied. This work uses a titanium nitride-titanium-tungsten (TiN-Ti-W) composite ring array, a TiN reflector layer, and a silver-titanium dioxide-silver (Ag-TiO2-Ag) three layer composite structure to prepare the absorption layer. The simulation results illustrate that the absorption rate can reach 96.6% when the absorption wavelength is 300-2800 nm. When the light source is backward incidence, ultra-narrow band absorption can occur at specific wavelengths of 465 nm and 932 nm. This proves that the absorber is in good agreement with the impedance matching theory. The research results of this work will provide a theoretical basis for the design and application of solar thermal energy conversion.

Insight into the structural, elastic, phonon dispersions, and optoelectronic properties of Cs2YXCl6 (X = In, Tl) double perovskites for solar cells and energy conversion applications

Due to their lack of lead, stability, and outstanding performance, double perovskites have emerged as a prominent subject of study in solar cell research. Thus, we present an analysis of the structural, elastic, electronic, and optical characteristics of Cs2YXCl6 (X = In, Tl) with regard to their applications in solar cells and thermoelectric generators. The structural stability has been validated by observing the thermodynamic stability, as evidenced by the negative formation energy and the fitting of the Birch-Murnaghan equation of state. The confirmation of structural stability in our materials is further supported by the absence of imaginary frequencies in the phonon dispersion calculations. The mechanical stability of both compounds is established by the relationship between their elastic constants, specifically C11 - C12 > 0, C11 > 0, C11 + 2 C12 > 0, and B > 0. However, it should be noted that these materials are characterized as mechanically anisotropic and ductile. By employing the highly promising Tb-MBj potential, the band gaps of Cs2YInCl6 and Cs2YTlCl6 have been calculated to be 4 eV and 0.9 eV, respectively. Cs2YInCl6 is categorized as an insulator, whereas Cs2YTlCl6 is considered a semiconductor. This distinction arises from the higher atomic mass of Tl in comparison to In, which results in elevated energy levels within the conduction band. A comprehensive investigation of the optical properties of both compounds was conducted within the energy range of 0 eV to 40 eV. It was found that these compounds exhibit significant absorption and optical conductivity in the higher energy range. Conversely, they demonstrate transparency to incident photons in the lower energy range. Based on our analysis of the optical properties, we have determined that these compounds are well-suited for applications in high-frequency UV devices. To the best of our knowledge, this study represents the first comprehensive theoretical analysis of the structural, elastic, electronic, and optical properties of Cs2YXCl6 (X = In and Tl), which have not yet been experimentally confirmed. In Summary, Cs2YXCl6 (X = In, Tl) exhibits significant promise for both solar cell and thermoelectric applications, showcasing its potential to contribute to the advancement of renewable energy and efficient energy conversion technologies.

Rational design of ternary NiCoFe hydrotalcite nanosheet co-catalysts to enhance the photoelectrochemical performance of α-Fe2O3 photoelectrodes

The reasonable construction of oxygen evolution co-catalysts on semiconductors is an effective means to enhance the photoelectrocatalytic performance of photoelectrodes. In this work, NiCoFe-LDH nanosheets with trimetallic active sites were integrated into α-Fe2O3 photoelectrodes by hydrothermal method and cation exchange reaction method. The NiCoFe-LDH acts as an effective co-catalyst, which significantly reduces the onset potential of the photoelectrode and enhances its photocurrent and stability. The photocurrent density of α-Fe2O3/NiCoFe-LDH composite photoelectrode reaches 0.62 mA/cm2, which is 6.8 and 1.4 times that of pure α-Fe2O3 and α-Fe2O3/NiCo-LDH, respectively and its starting potential is reduced to 0.52 V. At the same time, the co-catalyst with ternary metals provides more active sites on the surface of the photoelectrode, promoting the migration of photogenerated holes to the solution and enhancing the rapid separation of carriers. In addition, the synergistic interaction between multivalent transition metal ions in LDH plays an important role in improving the photoelectrocatalytic performance of the photoelectrodes. The co-catalyst introduced in this paper is expected to enhance the intrinsic photoelectrochemical activity of other semiconductor photoelectrodes and further explore their applications in solar energy conversion.

Vapor Nanobubbles around Heated Nanoparticles: Wetting Dependence of the Local Fluid Thermodynamics and Kinetics of Nucleation.

Plasmonic nanobubbles are composite objects resulting from the interaction between light and metallic nanoparticles immersed in a fluid. Plasmonic nanobubbles have applications in photothermal therapies, drug delivery, microfluidic manipulations, and solar energy conversion. Their early formation is, however, barely characterized due to the short time and length scales relevant to the process. Here, we investigate, using molecular dynamics (MD) simulations, the effect of nanoparticle wettability on both the local fluid thermodynamics and the kinetics of nanobubble generation in water. We first show that the local onset temperature of vapor nucleation decreases with the nanoparticle/water interfacial energy and may be 100 K below the water spinodal temperature in the case of weak nanoparticle/water interactions. Second, we demonstrate that vapor nucleation may be slower in the case of weak water/nanoparticle interactions. This result, which is qualitatively at odds with the predictions of isothermal classical nucleation theory, may be explained by the competition between two antagonist effects: while, classically, hydrophobicity increases the vapor nucleation rate, it also penalizes interfacial thermal transfer, slowing down kinetics. The kinetics of heat transfer from the nanoparticle to water is controlled by the interfacial thermal conductance. This quantity turns out not only to decrease with the nanoparticle hydrophobicity but also drops down prior to phase change, yielding even longer nucleation times. Such conclusions were reached by considering the comparison between MD and continuous heat transfer models. These results put forward the role of nanoparticle wettability in the generation of plasmonic nanobubbles observed experimentally and open the path to the control of boiling using nanopatterned surfaces.

Recent advances of colloidal quantum dots in a physical perspective

In quantum-confined semiconductor nanostructures, electrons show unique behaviors compared to bulk solids, which endows materials with tunable physicochemical and photoelectric properties. Zero-dimensional semiconductor quantum dots (QDs) provide intense light absorption and strong narrowband emission at visible and infrared bands, and have been employed to exhibit optical gain and lasing. These properties are beneficial for different application. Here, we provide a review in the synthesis and understanding of unique properties of colloidal QDs, and discuss their applications in display, lasers, sensing and solar energy conversion.

Morphological, structural, optical and photocurrent characteristics of Bi(TixMn(1-x))O3 perovskite nanorods grown by hydrothermal synthesis

This study focuses on the hydrothermal synthesis of Bi(TixMn(1-x))O3 (x = 0.3–0.9) perovskite nanorods on fluorine-doped tin oxide glass substrates and investigates the influence of Ti4+ on their morphological, structural, optical properties, and photocatalytic behavior. The high-resolution XPS spectra results have proved that Ti has been properly substituted into the Bi(TixMn(1-x))O3 nanorods. The characterization of morphology reveals a decrease in average diameter from 222 to 115 nm as the Ti concentration increases, while the band-gap energy experiences a slight reduction from 3.158 to 3.132 eV. X-ray and Raman spectroscopy analyses of the Bi(TixMn(1-x))O3 nanorods indicate that Ti ions substitute not only Mn3+ but also Bi3+ ions, leading to structural distortions in the crystal lattice. Moreover, the Bi(TixMn(1-x))O3 systems demonstrate enhanced photocurrent densities at 1.5 V potential, ranging from 3.19 to 5.54 mA/cm2, as the Ti concentration increases. This enhancement can be attributed to the combined effects of increased surface area, accelerating electron transfer at the interface of the electrode, and decreased optical band-gap energy. It is anticipated that this novel system will pave the way for further advancements in the field of photocatalytic water splitting and solar energy conversion applications.

Eco-friendly synthesis of chemically cross-linked chitosan/cellulose nanocrystal/CMK-3 aerogel based shape-stable phase change material with enhanced energy conversion and storage

Phase change materials (PCMs) have attracted numerous attention owing to their high energy storage density, cost-effective and operationally simple, however, the “solid-liquid” leakage and limited solar absorbance seriously hinder their widespread applications. Herein, an innovative chitosan/cellulose nanocrystal/CMK-3 (CS/CNC/CMK-3) aerogel based shape-stable PCM (SSPCM) was successfully synthesized, in which chemically cross-linked CS and CNC acted as three-dimensional supporting skeleton, CMK-3 endowed solar-to-thermal energy conversion ability and the impregnating polyethylene glycol (PEG) acted as the latent heat storage unit. The as-synthesized CS/CNC/CMK-3 aerogel/PEG (CCCA/PEG) showed ultrahigh melting/crystallization enthalpy of 178.5/171.1 J g−1 and excellent shape stability. The PEG was effectively embedded into the hierarchical porous architecture and the composite PCM could preserve its original shape without any leakage even compressed above the melting point of PEG. Meanwhile, the CCCA/PEG exhibited robust thermal reliability with an ultralow enthalpy fading rate of 0.030 ± 0.012 % per cycle over 100 thermal cycles. Intriguingly, the introduction of CMK-3 also significantly improved the solar-to-thermal energy conversion performance of CCCA/PEG, and a high solar-to-thermal conversion efficiency of 93.1 % could be realized. This work provided a potential strategy to design and synthesize high-performance sustainable SSPCM, which showed tremendous potential in the practical solar energy harvesting, conversion and storage applications.

Bandgap Engineering of Melon using Highly Reduced Graphene Oxide for Enhanced Photoelectrochemical Hydrogen Evolution.

The uncondensed form of polymeric carbon nitrides (PCN), generally known as melon, is a stacked 2D structure of poly(aminoimino)heptazine. Melon is used as a photocatalyst in solar energy conversion applications, but suffers from poor photoconversion efficiency due to weak optical absorption in the visible spectrum, high activation energy, and inefficient separation of photoexcited charge carriers. Experimental and theoretical studies are reported to engineer the bandgap of melon with highly reduced graphene oxide (HRG). Three HRG@melon nanocomposites with different HRG:melon ratios (0.5%, 1%, and 2%) areprepared. The 1% HRG@melon nanocomposite shows higher photocurrent density (71µA cm-2 ) than melon (24µA cm-2 ) in alkaline conditions. The addition of a hole scavenger further increases the photocurrent density to 630µA cm-2 relative to the reversible hydrogen electrode (RHE). These experimental results arevalidated by calculations using density functional theory (DFT), which revealed that HRG results in a significant charge redistribution and an improved photocatalytic hydrogen evolution reaction (HER).

Energetic Stability and Band-Edge Orbitals of Layered Inorganic Perovskite Compounds for Solar Energy Applications.

Halide and oxide perovskite semiconductors (e.g., CsPbI3 and SrTiO3) have been widely studied for solar energy conversion applications. The optoelectronic properties and performance of these compounds can be tuned through the growth of layered perovskite superstructures. While oxides are quite varied in the compositions and geometries taken up by layered perovskites, halides have proven much more limited. In this paper, we use density functional theory calculations and chemical intuition to explore why this is the case. We show that, in general, the thermodynamic stability or instability of layered perovskite superstructures depends on the interplay of their ionic and covalent character and, just as importantly, on the features of other competing phases.

Influence of the oxidation on the optical properties of Mo-Si-Ti, Ta-Mo-Cr-Al and Ta-Mo-Cr-Ti-Al alloys

Three refractory element-based alloys were oxidized for 6 h at 1100 °C in air inside a muffle furnace and the way the oxidation, especially through the evolution of the surface composition and roughness, affects the optical properties of these materials is discussed here. The ternary Mo-20.0Si-52.8Ti (at%) serves as an example of Mo-based alloys, while the equimolar Ta-Mo-Cr-Al (TMCA) and Ta-Mo-Cr-Ti-Al (TMCTA) are typical of the class of oxidation-resistant refractory compositionally complex alloys. The normal spectral emissivity of these three samples was increased due to the oxidation process. Oxidized TMCA and TMCTA exhibit a solar absorptivity higher than that of state-of-the-art Ni-based alloys used for solar receivers in concentrated solar power plants. Thus, the two refractory compositionally complex alloys are considered promising candidates for solar thermal energy conversion application.

Energy and exergy analysis of a bidirectional solar thermoelectric generator combining thermal energy storage

In this paper, energy and exergy analysis of a bidirectional solar thermoelectric generator (STEG) coupled to a latent heat storage and cooling system (LHSCS) has been carried out. The effect of various parameters of LHSCS on energy and exergy efficiencies of STEG have been analysed under climatic conditions of Chile’s Atacama Desert. It is found that the most relevant design parameter to improve the energy and exergy efficiencies of the thermoelectric generator (TEG) is the container insulation, followed by heat sink at the TEG hot side, fin thickness and the aspect ratio of the container. The results showed that an optimally designed insulation container can improve the energy and exergy efficiencies of LHSCS by 30% and 200%, respectively, and the TEG conversion efficiency by 30% during nighttime. Further, inclusion of heat sink at TEG hot side during reverse operation of TEG at night can improve the TEG efficiency by 20%. The optimal fin thickness can improve the TEG conversion efficiency by 20% during the night and LHSCS energy and exergy efficiencies by 30% and 23%, respectively. The container geometry should have higher aspect ratios. This study may help in optimal design of LHSCS for solar energy conversion applications in the desert locations.