Lon Bell-Thermoelectrics, potentially an important contributor to energy savings and greenhouse gas emission reductions

Thermoelectric devices are reversible solid state heat engines. If direct electric current is applied, they function as heat pumps, and can be configured as coolers, heaters and refrigerators. If the process is reversed, and a temperature differential is applied, electric power is produced. The promise is that solid state engines can eliminate two phase air conditioning systems and the green house gas emissions present AC systems produce. This has led to great interest in thermoelectric technology.

Kei May Lau-Hetero-epitaxy of III-V Compounds on Silicon Substrates by MOCVD for Device Applications

III-V compounds have established their niches in optoelectronic, high-frequency and high-speed device applications that cannot be matched by Si electronics. However, Si has been and will remain the workhorse in the semiconductor industry. To further improve the performance and extend the functionalities of Si-based electronics, the best approach is to combine these well-developed materials and related technologies. Our group has been investigating integration of III-V devices on a Si platform.

Marc Baldo

It has long been recognized that luminescent solar concentrators (LSCs) are perhaps the ideal solar concentrator for photovoltaic cells. LSCs are expected to be inexpensive to manufacture and can generate theoretically unlimited optical concentrations without the need to track the sun. But self absorption losses within LSCs have proved difficult to overcome. In this talk, we will address recent developments in photovoltaic cells and LSC technology that prompt a renewed examination of this technology.

Dr. Christiana Honsberg and Dr. Allen Barnett-Achieving a Solar Cell of Greater than 50 Percent: Physics, Technology, Implementation and Milestones

The theoretical limit of solar energy conversion is over 85%, yet the maximum efficiency of any solar cell in the laboratory is less than half this value, and commercial solar cells are only one fifth. For solar cells to meet world’s future energy demands, the challenge is to develop solar cells that achieve efficiencies that approach the thermodynamic limit.

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