Maximizing underwater energy harvesting efficiency using flexible solar cells: A pathway to sustainable ocean power DOI Creative Commons

Haoliang Bai,

Tonghui Lu,

Wenjun Liu

et al.

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 122(15)

Published: April 8, 2025

Photovoltaic technology has emerged as a key candidate for powering underwater devices. However, traditional solar cells face limitations in real marine environments. Flexible offer new possibilities energy harvesting. This study identifies the optimal bandgap and depth flexible through detailed balance calculations experiments. We also established an optical model cells, determining ideal curvature outdoor testing. The a-Si cell achieves impressive maximum efficiency of 59.7% at 2 m, generating up to 15.9% more throughout day compared planar cells. Theoretical results surpass fundamental limits seabed collection, outperforming all existing photovoltaic solutions. Building on this foundation, we demonstrated their all-day capabilities unmanned vehicles (UUVs) LED light beacons. Furthermore, explored global power generation potential typical depths, identifying operating ranges during different seasons analyzing costs water bodies. highlights immense advancing generation.

Language: Английский

Maximizing underwater energy harvesting efficiency using flexible solar cells: A pathway to sustainable ocean power DOI Creative Commons

Haoliang Bai,

Tonghui Lu,

Wenjun Liu

et al.

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 122(15)

Published: April 8, 2025

Photovoltaic technology has emerged as a key candidate for powering underwater devices. However, traditional solar cells face limitations in real marine environments. Flexible offer new possibilities energy harvesting. This study identifies the optimal bandgap and depth flexible through detailed balance calculations experiments. We also established an optical model cells, determining ideal curvature outdoor testing. The a-Si cell achieves impressive maximum efficiency of 59.7% at 2 m, generating up to 15.9% more throughout day compared planar cells. Theoretical results surpass fundamental limits seabed collection, outperforming all existing photovoltaic solutions. Building on this foundation, we demonstrated their all-day capabilities unmanned vehicles (UUVs) LED light beacons. Furthermore, explored global power generation potential typical depths, identifying operating ranges during different seasons analyzing costs water bodies. highlights immense advancing generation.

Language: Английский

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