Investigating the Effect of an IR Emitting Element to the Time Constant of Solar Energy Harvesting Device Lifetime

Abstract

Solar photovoltaic (PV) system is instrumental in provision of sustainable energy in the wake of social and environmental concerns. While research in solar cell efficiency has made great strides and achieved over 40% efficiency. Key concern is however, extending time constant of solar cell lifetime in minimum or no insolation. This emanates from the fact that most of solar cells have solid power storage which runs out under limited insolation reducing reliability of the cells. Improved in PVs high efficiency with flexible and lightweight thin films, would reduce on reliability which can guarantee longest time output in limited insolation. This paper investigated the effect of an infra-red generating element on time constant of a solar cell lifetime when the element is placed adjacent to solar cell. Using a dyesensitized (DSSC) TiO2 solar cell electrode, maintaining topology, thermal escape mechanism, quantum structure and optical absorption of In(Ga)As quantum dots in a wide gap Al0.2GaAs host material, the study investigated effect of attaching an emitting element on the solar cell lifetime whose findings showed a minimum of 27% increase in power output under low irradiation, while 14% increase in power output was recorded for high irradiation when an IR diode was mounted adjacent to solar cell. The study concluded that standardized IR element adjacent to a solar cell in a PV system significantly stretch a solar cell lifetime and power output.