Recent Advancements on the Design of Emitters for Efficient Thermophotovoltaics.

ORAL

Abstract

In thermophotovoltaics, heat from a thermal emitter is directly converted to electricity via a photovoltaic cell. To achieve high efficiencies, the emitted spectrum must be tailored to a specific solar cell. In this work, we propose to use a thin film configuration for the emitter. Our figure of merit (FOM) is defined as the ratio of the power generated by the photovoltaic cell (P\textunderscore \textbraceleft cell\textbraceright ) and the power emitted by the emitter (P\textunderscore \textbraceleft emit\textbraceright ). We analyze the optimal configuration of \textgreater 2000 different emitters that can operate at temperatures above 2000\textordmasculine C. The methods implemented here apply to any photovoltaic cell. Thus, we evaluate the best emitter candidates for Si, Ge, GaSb, InGaAs, and InGaAsSb cells. Due to the ultra-high temperature operation of the thermophotovoltaic, the thermal stability and the mismatch in the thermal expansion coefficient of each material combination are discussed. Our results show that FOMs above 50{\%} are achievable under ideal conditions. This work can shed light on high-temperature photonics, where a simple emitter design can result in higher efficient photoelectronic devices.

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Authors

  • Mariama Dias

    University of Richmond

  • Robert Grzywacz

    Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, University of Virginia, California Institute of Technology, National High Magnetic Field Laboratory, University and Student Affairs; Oak Ridge Laboratory, Brookhaven National Laboratory, Physicist, Brookhaven National Laboratory, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, USA, Center for Nuclear Study, University of Tokyo, Advanced Science Research Center, Japan Atomic Energy Agency, Florida State University, Presidency University, Kolkata, INDIA, VECC,Kolkata, INDIA, SINP,Kolkata, INDIA, UGC-DAE CSR (Kolkata), INDIA, IFIN-HH, ELI-NP, Romania, Variable Energy Cyclotron Centre,Kolkata, INDIA, IEM, Kolkata, India, Victoria Institution (College), Kolkata, INDIA, Variable Energy Cyclotron Centre, Kolkata, INDIA, NHMFL; Florida State University, FAMU-FSU College of Engineering, Florida State University, Physics Department, Florida State University, Mississippi State University, NHMFL-FSU, U. Colorado at Boulder, NHMFL, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Argonne National Laboratory, Alabama School of Math and Science, University of South Alabama, University of Florida, University of Notre Dame, University of Texas at Dallas, Bob Jones University, University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, The Autonomous University of San Luis Potosí, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, AZ, Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, Cambridge, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Clemson University, University of South Florida, Phenikaa University, University of Ulsan, Ohio University, University of Hawaii, University of California, Davis, University of California, Davis., Saleh Research Centre, Department of Physics, Florida State university, Tallahassee, FL32306, USA, WestCHEM, School of Chemistry, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, G12 8QQ, UK, Professor, facility manager, Student, Florida State University(Former), Hebrew University, Israel \& Ioffe Institute, St.\ Petersburg, Russia, University of Tennessee, Knoxville

  • Robert Grzywacz

    Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, University of Virginia, California Institute of Technology, National High Magnetic Field Laboratory, University and Student Affairs; Oak Ridge Laboratory, Brookhaven National Laboratory, Physicist, Brookhaven National Laboratory, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, USA, Center for Nuclear Study, University of Tokyo, Advanced Science Research Center, Japan Atomic Energy Agency, Florida State University, Presidency University, Kolkata, INDIA, VECC,Kolkata, INDIA, SINP,Kolkata, INDIA, UGC-DAE CSR (Kolkata), INDIA, IFIN-HH, ELI-NP, Romania, Variable Energy Cyclotron Centre,Kolkata, INDIA, IEM, Kolkata, India, Victoria Institution (College), Kolkata, INDIA, Variable Energy Cyclotron Centre, Kolkata, INDIA, NHMFL; Florida State University, FAMU-FSU College of Engineering, Florida State University, Physics Department, Florida State University, Mississippi State University, NHMFL-FSU, U. Colorado at Boulder, NHMFL, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Argonne National Laboratory, Alabama School of Math and Science, University of South Alabama, University of Florida, University of Notre Dame, University of Texas at Dallas, Bob Jones University, University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, The Autonomous University of San Luis Potosí, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, AZ, Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, Cambridge, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Clemson University, University of South Florida, Phenikaa University, University of Ulsan, Ohio University, University of Hawaii, University of California, Davis, University of California, Davis., Saleh Research Centre, Department of Physics, Florida State university, Tallahassee, FL32306, USA, WestCHEM, School of Chemistry, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, G12 8QQ, UK, Professor, facility manager, Student, Florida State University(Former), Hebrew University, Israel \& Ioffe Institute, St.\ Petersburg, Russia, University of Tennessee, Knoxville

  • Robert Grzywacz

    Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, University of Virginia, California Institute of Technology, National High Magnetic Field Laboratory, University and Student Affairs; Oak Ridge Laboratory, Brookhaven National Laboratory, Physicist, Brookhaven National Laboratory, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, USA, Center for Nuclear Study, University of Tokyo, Advanced Science Research Center, Japan Atomic Energy Agency, Florida State University, Presidency University, Kolkata, INDIA, VECC,Kolkata, INDIA, SINP,Kolkata, INDIA, UGC-DAE CSR (Kolkata), INDIA, IFIN-HH, ELI-NP, Romania, Variable Energy Cyclotron Centre,Kolkata, INDIA, IEM, Kolkata, India, Victoria Institution (College), Kolkata, INDIA, Variable Energy Cyclotron Centre, Kolkata, INDIA, NHMFL; Florida State University, FAMU-FSU College of Engineering, Florida State University, Physics Department, Florida State University, Mississippi State University, NHMFL-FSU, U. Colorado at Boulder, NHMFL, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Argonne National Laboratory, Alabama School of Math and Science, University of South Alabama, University of Florida, University of Notre Dame, University of Texas at Dallas, Bob Jones University, University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, The Autonomous University of San Luis Potosí, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, AZ, Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, Cambridge, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Clemson University, University of South Florida, Phenikaa University, University of Ulsan, Ohio University, University of Hawaii, University of California, Davis, University of California, Davis., Saleh Research Centre, Department of Physics, Florida State university, Tallahassee, FL32306, USA, WestCHEM, School of Chemistry, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, G12 8QQ, UK, Professor, facility manager, Student, Florida State University(Former), Hebrew University, Israel \& Ioffe Institute, St.\ Petersburg, Russia, University of Tennessee, Knoxville

  • Robert Grzywacz

    Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, University of Virginia, California Institute of Technology, National High Magnetic Field Laboratory, University and Student Affairs; Oak Ridge Laboratory, Brookhaven National Laboratory, Physicist, Brookhaven National Laboratory, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, USA, Center for Nuclear Study, University of Tokyo, Advanced Science Research Center, Japan Atomic Energy Agency, Florida State University, Presidency University, Kolkata, INDIA, VECC,Kolkata, INDIA, SINP,Kolkata, INDIA, UGC-DAE CSR (Kolkata), INDIA, IFIN-HH, ELI-NP, Romania, Variable Energy Cyclotron Centre,Kolkata, INDIA, IEM, Kolkata, India, Victoria Institution (College), Kolkata, INDIA, Variable Energy Cyclotron Centre, Kolkata, INDIA, NHMFL; Florida State University, FAMU-FSU College of Engineering, Florida State University, Physics Department, Florida State University, Mississippi State University, NHMFL-FSU, U. Colorado at Boulder, NHMFL, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Argonne National Laboratory, Alabama School of Math and Science, University of South Alabama, University of Florida, University of Notre Dame, University of Texas at Dallas, Bob Jones University, University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, The Autonomous University of San Luis Potosí, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, AZ, Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, Cambridge, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Clemson University, University of South Florida, Phenikaa University, University of Ulsan, Ohio University, University of Hawaii, University of California, Davis, University of California, Davis., Saleh Research Centre, Department of Physics, Florida State university, Tallahassee, FL32306, USA, WestCHEM, School of Chemistry, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, G12 8QQ, UK, Professor, facility manager, Student, Florida State University(Former), Hebrew University, Israel \& Ioffe Institute, St.\ Petersburg, Russia, University of Tennessee, Knoxville

  • Robert Grzywacz

    Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, University of Virginia, California Institute of Technology, National High Magnetic Field Laboratory, University and Student Affairs; Oak Ridge Laboratory, Brookhaven National Laboratory, Physicist, Brookhaven National Laboratory, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, USA, Center for Nuclear Study, University of Tokyo, Advanced Science Research Center, Japan Atomic Energy Agency, Florida State University, Presidency University, Kolkata, INDIA, VECC,Kolkata, INDIA, SINP,Kolkata, INDIA, UGC-DAE CSR (Kolkata), INDIA, IFIN-HH, ELI-NP, Romania, Variable Energy Cyclotron Centre,Kolkata, INDIA, IEM, Kolkata, India, Victoria Institution (College), Kolkata, INDIA, Variable Energy Cyclotron Centre, Kolkata, INDIA, NHMFL; Florida State University, FAMU-FSU College of Engineering, Florida State University, Physics Department, Florida State University, Mississippi State University, NHMFL-FSU, U. Colorado at Boulder, NHMFL, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Argonne National Laboratory, Alabama School of Math and Science, University of South Alabama, University of Florida, University of Notre Dame, University of Texas at Dallas, Bob Jones University, University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, The Autonomous University of San Luis Potosí, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, AZ, Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, Cambridge, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Clemson University, University of South Florida, Phenikaa University, University of Ulsan, Ohio University, University of Hawaii, University of California, Davis, University of California, Davis., Saleh Research Centre, Department of Physics, Florida State university, Tallahassee, FL32306, USA, WestCHEM, School of Chemistry, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, G12 8QQ, UK, Professor, facility manager, Student, Florida State University(Former), Hebrew University, Israel \& Ioffe Institute, St.\ Petersburg, Russia, University of Tennessee, Knoxville

  • Robert Grzywacz

    Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, University of Virginia, California Institute of Technology, National High Magnetic Field Laboratory, University and Student Affairs; Oak Ridge Laboratory, Brookhaven National Laboratory, Physicist, Brookhaven National Laboratory, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, USA, Center for Nuclear Study, University of Tokyo, Advanced Science Research Center, Japan Atomic Energy Agency, Florida State University, Presidency University, Kolkata, INDIA, VECC,Kolkata, INDIA, SINP,Kolkata, INDIA, UGC-DAE CSR (Kolkata), INDIA, IFIN-HH, ELI-NP, Romania, Variable Energy Cyclotron Centre,Kolkata, INDIA, IEM, Kolkata, India, Victoria Institution (College), Kolkata, INDIA, Variable Energy Cyclotron Centre, Kolkata, INDIA, NHMFL; Florida State University, FAMU-FSU College of Engineering, Florida State University, Physics Department, Florida State University, Mississippi State University, NHMFL-FSU, U. Colorado at Boulder, NHMFL, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Argonne National Laboratory, Alabama School of Math and Science, University of South Alabama, University of Florida, University of Notre Dame, University of Texas at Dallas, Bob Jones University, University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, The Autonomous University of San Luis Potosí, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, AZ, Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, Cambridge, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Clemson University, University of South Florida, Phenikaa University, University of Ulsan, Ohio University, University of Hawaii, University of California, Davis, University of California, Davis., Saleh Research Centre, Department of Physics, Florida State university, Tallahassee, FL32306, USA, WestCHEM, School of Chemistry, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, G12 8QQ, UK, Professor, facility manager, Student, Florida State University(Former), Hebrew University, Israel \& Ioffe Institute, St.\ Petersburg, Russia, University of Tennessee, Knoxville

  • Robert Grzywacz

    Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, University of Virginia, California Institute of Technology, National High Magnetic Field Laboratory, University and Student Affairs; Oak Ridge Laboratory, Brookhaven National Laboratory, Physicist, Brookhaven National Laboratory, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, USA, Center for Nuclear Study, University of Tokyo, Advanced Science Research Center, Japan Atomic Energy Agency, Florida State University, Presidency University, Kolkata, INDIA, VECC,Kolkata, INDIA, SINP,Kolkata, INDIA, UGC-DAE CSR (Kolkata), INDIA, IFIN-HH, ELI-NP, Romania, Variable Energy Cyclotron Centre,Kolkata, INDIA, IEM, Kolkata, India, Victoria Institution (College), Kolkata, INDIA, Variable Energy Cyclotron Centre, Kolkata, INDIA, NHMFL; Florida State University, FAMU-FSU College of Engineering, Florida State University, Physics Department, Florida State University, Mississippi State University, NHMFL-FSU, U. Colorado at Boulder, NHMFL, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Argonne National Laboratory, Alabama School of Math and Science, University of South Alabama, University of Florida, University of Notre Dame, University of Texas at Dallas, Bob Jones University, University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, The Autonomous University of San Luis Potosí, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, AZ, Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, Cambridge, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Clemson University, University of South Florida, Phenikaa University, University of Ulsan, Ohio University, University of Hawaii, University of California, Davis, University of California, Davis., Saleh Research Centre, Department of Physics, Florida State university, Tallahassee, FL32306, USA, WestCHEM, School of Chemistry, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, G12 8QQ, UK, Professor, facility manager, Student, Florida State University(Former), Hebrew University, Israel \& Ioffe Institute, St.\ Petersburg, Russia, University of Tennessee, Knoxville