An investigation of the synthesis and optical properties of novel Ag/ZnO hybrid nanofluids for spectral splitting in photovoltaic-thermal systems
File(s)ECOS2023_ChouguleEtAl.pdf (1.71 MB)
Accepted version
Author(s)
Chougule, SS
Bolegave, G
Soni, B
Kamble, V
Markides, CN
Type
Conference Paper
Abstract
The deficient utilisation of the solar spectrum in conventional hybrid concentrating photovoltaic-thermal (CPVT) technologies leads to a detrimental decrease in PV efficiency due to elevated temperatures. Solar spectral beam splitting (SBS) is an advancement in PV-T system design, which aims to use the full solar spectrum with minimal optical losses. The implementation of fluid-based SBS designs is economically feasible, with optical features that can be tuned by selecting suitable nanofluids with a desired concentration. Fluid-based SBS filters are advantageous over other filters for PV-T systems due to their ability to operate simultaneously as thermal storage as well as heat transfer media in these systems. In the present study, we report on the optical and thermophysical properties of a novel water-based Ag-ZnO hybrid nanofluid. The filter is synthesised by adding Ag to ZnO nanoparticles by a wet chemical method for improved stability. Silver (Ag) allows visible light harvesting (down conversion of UV to the visible region of the solar spectrum) and good optical properties in the visible and near-IR regions. An Ag shell can be embedded into the core of zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles for improved stability. The presence of ZnO enables excellent optical properties, including high visible transmittance and high UV absorption. The presence of structural defects in ZnO induces colour centres which are deep traps emitting in the visible. Ag-ZnO nanofluids with different nanoparticle concentrations were tested to measure absorbance and transmittance using UV spectroscopy. These nanofluid filters can be used for full spectrum utilisation (by SBS) which helps in achieving: (i) down conversion in the UV region, (ii) transmit visible and near IR (NIR) region (desired wavelength of Si PV cell optoelectronic efficiency) ,and (iii) absorb (filter) the IR region of the solar spectrum (for downstream thermal use/applications).
Date Issued
2023-07
Online Publication Date
2024-04-25T08:52:12Z
Date Acceptance
2023-06-25
ISBN
9781713874928
Publisher
ECOS 2023
Start Page
1747
End Page
1754
Journal / Book Title
36th International Conference on Efficiency, Cost, Optimization, Simulation and Environmental Impact of Energy Systems (ECOS 2023)
Copyright Statement
For the purpose of Open Access, the authors have applied a CC BY
public copyright licence to any Author Accepted Manuscript version arising from this submission.
public copyright licence to any Author Accepted Manuscript version arising from this submission.
License URI
Identifier
http://dx.doi.org/10.52202/069564-0158
Source
36th International Conference on Efficiency, Cost, Optimization, Simulation and Environmental Impact of Energy Systems (ECOS 2023)
Publication Status
Published
Start Date
2023-06-25
Finish Date
2023-06-30
Country
Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain
Date Publish Online
2023-07