Plasmonic Nanoparticles Boost Solar-to-Electricity Generation at Ambient Conditions.
Nano Lett
; 24(18): 5585-5592, 2024 May 08.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-38662652
ABSTRACT
Sunlight-to-electricity conversion using solar thermoelectric generators (STEGs) is a proven technology to meet our ever-growing energy demand. However, STEGs are often operated under a vacuum with customized thermoelectric materials to achieve high performance. In this work, the incorporation of plasmonic gold nanoparticle (AuNP) based solar absorbers enabled the efficient operation of STEGs under ambient conditions with commercially available thermoelectric devices. AuNPs enhanced the performance of STEG by â¼9 times, yielding an overall solar-to-electricity conversion efficiency of â¼9.6% under 7.5 W cm-2 solar irradiance at ambient conditions. Plasmonic heat dissipated by AuNPs upon solar irradiation was used as the thermal energy source for STEGs. High light absorptivity, photothermal conversion efficiency (â¼95%), and thermal conductivity of AuNPs enabled the efficient generation and transfer of heat to STEGs, with minimal radiative and convective heat losses. The power generated from plasmon-powered STEGs is used to run electrical devices as well as produce green hydrogen via the electrolysis of water.
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MEDLINE
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Nano Lett
Ano de publicação:
2024
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Article
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Índia