Hybrid solar energy device for simultaneous electric power generation and molecular solar thermal energy storage

The performance of photovoltaic (PV) solar cells can be adversely affected by the heat generated from solar irradiation. To address this issue, a hybrid device featuring a solar energy storage and cooling layer integrated with a silicon-based PV cell has been developed. This layer employs a molecular solar thermal (MOST) energy storage system to convert and store high-energy photons—typically underutilized by solar cells due to thermalization losses—into chemical energy. Simultaneously, it effectively cools the PV cell through both optical effects and thermal conductivity. Herein, it was demonstrated that up to 2.3% of solar energy could be stored as chemical energy. Additionally, the integration of the MOST system with the PV cell resulted in a notable decrease in the cell's surface temperature by approximately 8°C under standard solar irradiation conditions. The hybrid system demonstrated a solar utilization efficiency of 14.9%, underscoring its potential to achieve even greater efficiencies in forthcoming advanced hybrid PV solar energy systems.