High‐efficiency solar energy conversion using infrared focusing and reflection system

Summary In this article, using solar radiation in infrared (IR) wavelengths, a new technique is investigated to increase the efficiency of conventional solar cells. The experiments on indium tin oxide (ITO), fluorine‐doped tin oxide (FTO), and antimony‐doped tin oxide (ATO) films showed that the impurity content and the substrate temperatures, while preparing the films, play a significant role in transparency and IR reflection of the final products. The investigation for ITO/Ag/ITO, ATO/Ag/ATO, and FTO/Ag/FTO films indicated that the reflection of the light increases with the growth of the silver layer thickness. Various experiments demonstrate that light reflection from thin films falls into two categories of specular and diffuse reflections. Eventually, considering simulation and experiment results, a new generation of solar panels was introduced by combining three technologies, including solar cells, IR reflective coating, and thermophotovoltaic cells, which will enhance the efficiency of solar energy conversion into electricity.