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

ABSTRACT: Photovoltaic technology has emerged as a key candidate for powering underwater devices. However, traditional solar cells face limitations in real marine environments. Flexible solar cells offer new possibilities for underwater energy harvesting. This study identifies the optimal bandgap and depth for flexible underwater solar cells through detailed balance calculations and experiments. We also established an optical model for underwater flexible solar cells, determining the ideal curvature through outdoor testing. The flexible a-Si solar cell achieves an impressive maximum efficiency of 59.7% at 2 m, generating up to 15.9% more energy throughout the day compared to planar solar cells. Theoretical results surpass the fundamental limits of seabed solar collection, outperforming all existing

SUBMITTER: Bai H 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12012475 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature