Photonic nanometer scale metamaterials and nanoporous thermoelectric materials for enhancement of hybrid photovoltaic thermoelectric devices

• We design TE device with plasmonic fishnet metastructure and nanoporous TE ink and binder to improve efficiency by 11 folds of hybrid PV-TE device.
• Performance of different formulations of nanoporous TE filler and nanocomposite conductive binders compared to silver based conductive binder.
• Application of nanoporous p-type and n-type TE inks and nanoimprinted fishnet structure enables Roll to Roll manufacturing of Hybrid TE device.

This paper discusses the design, development and implementation of a plasmonic fishnet meta-structure, synthesis of TE ink and binder, fabrication of conductive ink, and printing technology to improve the overall efficiency of the hybrid PV–TE devices. Embedded fishnet meta-structure in hybrid photovoltaic–thermoelectric (PV–TE) system and, synthesis/characterization of printable nanoporous thermoelectric (TE) ink are proposed. Back passivation layer of the solar cell includes a planar fishnet structure that enhances solar radiation absorption near the infrared band of the solar spectrum. It was observed to improve the efficiency around 11 folds in the hybrid system with fishnet. Nanoporous Bi2Te3 and Sb2Te3 were used to prepare printing inks to print p–n junctions. Development of fishnet, synthesis/characterization of TE ink, binder and conductive ink are elucidated in this paper.

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