Synergizing perovskite solar cell and thermoelectric generator for broad-spectrum utilization: Model updating, performance assessment and optimization

Hybridization of perovskite solar cell with thermoelectric generator is a promising broad-spectrum harvesting strategy. However, the existing modeling studies omit the thermal effects within the hybrid system, leading to inaccuracy of available results. Herein, an updated photovoltaic/thermoelectric system model incorporating a perovskite solar cell, a solar selective absorber, and a thermoelectric generator is theoretically developed to more accurately predict its real performance, in which the external heat transfer irreversibility between subsystems as well as the Thomson effects within thermoelectric generator are considered, and the fundamentally physical processes within the perovskite solar cell are included. It is found that P-type BiTe and n-type BiTe are the best compatible thermoelectric materials for the thermoelectric generator. Extensive parametric studies identify that the operating temperature, operating voltage and two interface defect densities of perovskite solar cell, and two structure parameters of thermoelectric generator are optimizable. A series of optimizations predict that the hybrid system has a maximum energy efficiency of 22.36 %, which is 13.68 % and 12.59 % higher than that of the unoptimized single perovskite solar cell and that of the unoptimized system, respectively. The obtained results are helpful to evaluate and optimize the performance of such an actual system.