One-Dimensional Multilayer Microstructure Emitter for Thermophotovoltaic Applications

Abstract

In this paper, a one-dimensional periodic multilayer is optimized for potential application as thermophotovoltaic (TPV) emitter. The proposed structure was prepared through a magnetron sputtering process. The influence of layers geometric parameters of the proposed structure on the spectral emittance is studied by using the rigorous coupled-wave analysis (RCWA)

Radioisotope Thermophotovoltaic Generator Design Methods and Performance Estimates for Space Missions

“…The components with a heat source include the canister housing the GPHS units, the TPV cell with irradiation from the emitter, and the chassis with irradiation heat from the MLI heat leakage. The components with radiative heat loss obey the Stefan-Boltzmann relationship in Equation (12), where A is the area, F is the view factor that is slightly less than 1 for the emitter-cell radiation calculated based on [46], and ɛ is the emissivity. The selective emitter emits to the TPV cell at room temperature, and the chassis and the radiator emit to the outer space with Tamb ≈ 4 K. The effective emissivity of the photonic crystal emitter ɛeff is calculated based on Equation ( 13), by averaging the wavelength dependent emissive power over a blackbody.…”

“…[11]. So far, researches have demonstrated one-dimensional, two-dimensional, and three-dimensional micro-structures as selective emitters [12][13][14]. It was predicted that an RTPV system efficiency as high as 30% was possible with nanostructured photonic devices [15].…”

“…It was predicted that an RTPV system efficiency as high as 30% was possible with nanostructured photonic devices [15]. In this work, we focused on the two-dimensional photonic crystal emitter with periodic holes because: 1.The photonic crystals were successfully fabricated [16] of the emitters can be easily tailored during the micro-fabrication to be suitable for TPV cells of any bandgaps [12];…”

A tungsten-based metamaterial emitter for solar thermophotovoltaic systems

“…33 These emitters with complex structures of different material combinations can be matched with GaSb cells, but the resulting complex manufacturing process and high cost bring great challenges to their widespread application. [34][35][36][37][38][39] Using a metal can effectively avoid problems such as high cost and high temperature stability caused by stacking of multiple materials. 40 Tungsten (W), with a melting point of 3683 K and excellent optical properties, is widely used in the field of concentrator photovoltaics.…”

Performance analysis of solar thermophotovoltaic conversion enhanced by selective metamaterial absorbers and emitters

“…Besides photonic crystals [8][9][10][11], selective absorption/emission for the absorber-emitter module can also be obtained with multilayer cavities [12][13][14][15], nanowire [16][17][18] and nanoparticle based structures [19,20]. Recently, film-coupled metamaterials with selective radiative properties have been investigated.…”