Publication:
Optimization of p-type emitter thickness for GaSb-based thermophotovoltaic cells

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Date
2018
Authors
Rashid W.E.
Ker P.J.
Jamaludin M.Z.
Rahman N.A.
Khamis M.A.
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Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc.
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Abstract
Thermophotovoltaic (TPV) cells that convert thermal heat directly into electricity are attracting attention as they potentially produce high output power densities. Owing to its capability to convert with a Carnot efficiency, an optimization of these cells is essential to further enhance their performance and efficiency. This paper focuses on the optimization of p-type emitter thickness of Gallium Antimonide (GaSb) based TPV cell using Silvaco TCAD simulation software. The simulation works in this paper were validated by having a good agreement with those from the experimental work in terms of the electrical characteristics and efficiency of the GaSb TPV cell. Further simulation was done with different p-type emitter thicknesses ranging from 0.15 ?m to 1.20 ?m, It was demonstrated that the open circuit voltage (Voc) of the cell increases while the short-circuit current density (Jsc) decreases with increasing p-type emitter thickness. Since the rate of increasing Voc is faster than that of decreasing Jsc, higher maximum power efficiency was obtained at an optimum thickness of 0.85 ?m. It was found that, under AM1.5 illumination condition, an increment of power efficiency from 5.91 % to 6.63 % was achieved when increasing p-type emitter thickness from 0.15 ?m to 0.85 ?m. � 2018 IEEE.
Description
Antimony compounds; Cells; Computer software; Cytology; Efficiency; III-V semiconductors; Open circuit voltage; Carnot efficiency; Electrical characteristic; emitter thickness; Gallium antimonide; High output power; Illumination conditions; Thermophoto voltaic cells; Thermophotovoltaics; Gallium compounds
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