Thin-Film Multilayer Filter Designs For Hybrid Solar Energy Conversion Systems

The efficiency of hybrid photothermal/photovoltaic energy conversion can be increased by separating the solar spectrum into portions matched to the photothermal and photovoltaic processes. Thin-film multilayer filters can implement this concept; five such filters consisting of all-dielectric or metal-dielectric layers have been designed. The transmission profile of each design is calculated by computer, considering dispersion, absorption, and angle of incidence effects. These profiles are compared and evaluated with respect to the desired spectral performance. The most successful candidate design is an optical minus filter consisting of Ti02, Zr02, and Si02. Results show very sharp selection of the targeted photovoltaic spectral region and low ripple in the transmission region outside the bandstop.