For decades, progress in the field of optical (including solar) energy conversion was dominated by advances in the conventional concentrating optics and materials design. In recent years, however, conceptual and technological breakthroughs in the fields of nanophotonics and plasmonics combined with a better understanding of the thermodynamics of the photon energy-conversion processes reshaped the landscape of energy-conversion schemes and devices. Nanostructured devices and materials that make use of size quantization effects to manipulate photon density of states offer a way to overcome the conventional light absorption limits. Novel optical spectrum splitting and photon-recycling schemes reduce the entropy production in the optical energy-conversion platforms and boost their efficiencies. Optical design concepts are rapidly expanding into the infrared energy band, offering new approaches to harvest waste heat, to reduce the thermal emission losses, and to achieve noncontact radiative cooling of solar cells as well as of optical and electronic circuitries. Light-matter interaction enabled by nanophotonics and plasmonics underlie the performance of the third- and fourth-generation energy-conversion devices, including up- and down-conversion of photon energy, near-field radiative energy transfer, and hot electron generation and harvesting. Finally, the increased market penetration of alternative solar energy-conversion technologies amplifies the role of cost-driven and environmental considerations. This roadmap on optical energy conversion provides a snapshot of the state of the art in optical energy conversion, remaining challenges, and most promising approaches to address these challenges. Leading experts authored 19 focused short sections of the roadmap where they share their vision on a specific aspect of this burgeoning research field. The roadmap opens up with a tutorial section, which introduces major concepts and terminology. As a result, it is our hope that the roadmap will serve as an important resource for the scientific community, new generations of researchers, funding agencies, industry experts, and investors.
Boriskina, Svetlana V., et al. "Roadmap on optical energy conversion." Journal of Optics, vol. 18, no. 7, Jun. 2016. https://doi.org/10.1088/2040-8978/18/7/073004
Boriskina, Svetlana V., Green, Martin A., Catchpole, Kylie, et al., "Roadmap on optical energy conversion," Journal of Optics 18, no. 7 (2016), https://doi.org/10.1088/2040-8978/18/7/073004
@article{osti_1279500,
author = {Boriskina, Svetlana V. and Green, Martin A. and Catchpole, Kylie and Yablonovitch, Eli and Beard, Matthew C. and Okada, Yoshitaka and Lany, Stephan and Gershon, Talia and Zakutayev, Andriy and Tahersima, Mohammad H. and others},
title = {Roadmap on optical energy conversion},
annote = {For decades, progress in the field of optical (including solar) energy conversion was dominated by advances in the conventional concentrating optics and materials design. In recent years, however, conceptual and technological breakthroughs in the fields of nanophotonics and plasmonics combined with a better understanding of the thermodynamics of the photon energy-conversion processes reshaped the landscape of energy-conversion schemes and devices. Nanostructured devices and materials that make use of size quantization effects to manipulate photon density of states offer a way to overcome the conventional light absorption limits. Novel optical spectrum splitting and photon-recycling schemes reduce the entropy production in the optical energy-conversion platforms and boost their efficiencies. Optical design concepts are rapidly expanding into the infrared energy band, offering new approaches to harvest waste heat, to reduce the thermal emission losses, and to achieve noncontact radiative cooling of solar cells as well as of optical and electronic circuitries. Light-matter interaction enabled by nanophotonics and plasmonics underlie the performance of the third- and fourth-generation energy-conversion devices, including up- and down-conversion of photon energy, near-field radiative energy transfer, and hot electron generation and harvesting. Finally, the increased market penetration of alternative solar energy-conversion technologies amplifies the role of cost-driven and environmental considerations. This roadmap on optical energy conversion provides a snapshot of the state of the art in optical energy conversion, remaining challenges, and most promising approaches to address these challenges. Leading experts authored 19 focused short sections of the roadmap where they share their vision on a specific aspect of this burgeoning research field. The roadmap opens up with a tutorial section, which introduces major concepts and terminology. As a result, it is our hope that the roadmap will serve as an important resource for the scientific community, new generations of researchers, funding agencies, industry experts, and investors.},
doi = {10.1088/2040-8978/18/7/073004},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1279500},
journal = {Journal of Optics},
issn = {ISSN 2040-8978},
number = {7},
volume = {18},
place = {United States},
publisher = {IOP Publishing},
year = {2016},
month = {06}}
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL), Berkeley, CA (United States); Massachusetts Inst. of Technology (MIT), Cambridge, MA (United States); National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), Golden, CO (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
Massachusetts Inst. of Technology (MIT), Cambridge, MA (United States). Solid-State Solar-Thermal Energy Conversion Center (S3TEC); USDOE Office of Science (SC); USDOE Office of Science (SC), Basic Energy Sciences (BES) (SC-22)
THERMOPHOTOVOLTAIC GENERATION OF ELECTRICITY: Sixth Conference on Thermophotovoltaic Generation of Electricity: TPV6, AIP Conference Proceedingshttps://doi.org/10.1063/1.1841878
THERMOPHOTOVOLTAIC GENERATION OF ELECTRICITY: Sixth Conference on Thermophotovoltaic Generation of Electricity: TPV6, AIP Conference Proceedingshttps://doi.org/10.1063/1.1841921