Study on the efficient PV/TE characteristics of the self-assembled thin films based on bismuth telluride/cadmium telluride

Solar radiation has a spectral distribution ranging from short wavelengths (200-800 nm, visible part) to long wavelengths (800-3000 nm, heat part). Cadmium telluride and bismuth telluride are well known photovoltaic (PV) and thermoelectric (TE) materials, respectively. CdTe converts light energy into electricity and Bi 2 Te 3 converts heat into electricity. To effectively use the entire solar spectrum for energy conversion, a new type of solar cell based on a Bi 2 Te 3 /CdTe composite in a core/shell structure was designed and prepared using a wet chemical method. X-ray diffraction and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy confirmed the formation of Bi 2 Te 3 /CdTe in a core/shell structure with high crystallinity. Bi 2 Te 3 nanoparticles function as built-in nanoscale electron generators to convert heat into electricity and CdTe functions as a photovoltaic cell. The efficiency of the thin film solar cell device was found to be 2.5% at room temperature and 4.8% when exposed to sunlight. The combined PV and TE modules resulted in an overall power conversion efficiency of 4.8%. To effectively use the entire solar spectrum for energy conversion, a new type of solar cell based on a Bi 2 Te 3 /CdTe composite in a core shell structure was designed and prepared using a wet chemical method.