Graphene and carbon black nano-composite polymer absorbers for a pyro-electric solar energy harvesting device based on LiNbO3 crystals

Luigi Battista, Laura Mecozzi, Sara Coppola, Veronica Vespini, Simonetta Grilli and Pietro Ferraro

Applied Energy, 2014, vol. 136, issue C, 357-362

Abstract: A novel scheme for solar energy harvesting based on the pyro-electric effect has been demonstrated. The proposed harvester is based on an optical system focusing solar radiation onto a ferroelectric crystal (i.e. lithium niobate). The face exposed to the heating source is coated with a nanocomposite material (i.e. carbon black and graphene particles) that greatly improves the adsorption of solar radiation. The solar energy focused onto the crystal through a simple optical system allows one to induce a thermal gradient able to generate electric charges. Experiments have been carried out indoor as well as outdoor (in Pozzuoli, Naples, Italy, on December). Results show that two configurations appear to be preferable: (a) pyro-electric element with carbon black-based coating and a Fresnel lens (surface of about 100cm2); (b) pyro-electric element with graphene-based coating and a Fresnel lens (surface of about 600cm2). In both experimental arrangements the maximum temperature variation reached locally onto the lithium niobate substrate is relatively high with peaks greater than 250°C. The maximum electrical power peak is of about 90μW and about 50μW for (a) and (b) respectively. The results of this first investigation are encouraging for further development of more efficient harvesting devices.

Keywords: Solar energy harvesting; Pyro-electric effect; Carbon black; Graphene; Lithium niobate (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2014
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

Downloads: (external link)
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0306261914009830
Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:appene:v:136:y:2014:i:c:p:357-362

Ordering information: This journal article can be ordered from
http://www.elsevier.com/wps/find/journaldescription.cws_home/405891/bibliographic
http://www.elsevier. ... 405891/bibliographic

DOI: 10.1016/j.apenergy.2014.09.035

Access Statistics for this article

Applied Energy is currently edited by J. Yan

More articles in Applied Energy from Elsevier
Bibliographic data for series maintained by Catherine Liu ().