Performance Enhancement by Integrating the Ionic Thermoelectric Generator with a Photovoltaic Cell

The global solar market is booming with a rapid growth in installed integrated devices, while photovoltaic (PV) systems are suffering from waste heat, which causes the decline of the photovoltaic conversion efficiency (PCE). This study presents the seamless integration of the ionic thermoelectric generator (iTEG) layer with traditional PV modules, facilitating the exploitation of waste heat and augmenting the overall power output. Experimental results validate the effectiveness of the iTEG, demonstrating substantial power generation and a consistent energy output. Specifically, a power output of 515 mW/m² is achieved at a temperature difference of 20 K, while an energy density of 229.7 J/m² is recorded at a temperature difference of 10 K with an external resistance of 1 kΩ. Notably, this system maintains continuous electricity generation over 100 cycles. Furthermore, the iTEG effectively reduces the operating temperature of the solar panel by 2 °C, which is beneficial in minimizing PCE losses attributed to the temperature coefficient. This research holds substantial practical implications, particularly for large-scale power generation leveraging iTEG technology in conjunction with solar cells.