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Title: Holographic Spectrum Splitting Demonstration System for Duel Photovoltaic and Biofuel Operation

Technical Report ·
DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/1761820· OSTI ID:1761820
 [1];  [2];  [1]
  1. Univ. of Arizona, Tucson, AZ (United States)
  2. Sandia National Lab. (SNL-NM), Albuquerque, NM (United States)

Spectrum splitting is an optical technique that can increase conversion efficiency or add energy storage capability to a photovoltaic (PV) energy system. In this Sandia National Laboratory Campus Executive project, two distinct types of Diffractive Optical Elements (DOEs) for spectrum splitting were developed, fabricated and measured. The first DOE was an algorithmically-designed freeform surface relief structure. A parametric study of the Broadband Gerchberg-Saxton algorithm was performed to show the effect of design variables on device performance. Two DOE designs were fabricated using a grayscale Maskless Lithography Tool (MLT) and measured. The second DOE was a volume holographic lens. This concept was explored in the context of hybrid PV/biofuel implementation, and was later applied to a multiple-bandgap PV module. A design process was developed to ensure diffraction into a single order across the lens and to enable spectral tuning of diffracted light. A proof-of-concept off-axis holographic lens was fabricated and measured. The report concludes with a summary of spectrum splitting performance and discussion of areas for improvement and future work.

Research Organization:
Sandia National Lab. (SNL-NM), Albuquerque, NM (United States); Univ. of Arizona, Tucson, AZ (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA); USDOE Laboratory Directed Research and Development (LDRD) Program
DOE Contract Number:
AC04-94AL85000
OSTI ID:
1761820
Report Number(s):
SAND-2016-8555; 671241
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English