Abstract

We present theoretical considerations as well as detailed numerical design of absorber and emitter for Solar Thermophotovoltaics (STPV) applications. The absorber, consisting of an array of tungsten pyramids, was designed to provide near-unity absorptivity over all solar wavelengths for a wide angular range, enabling it to absorb light effectively from solar sources regardless of concentration. The emitter, a tungsten slab with Si/SiO2 multilayer stack, provides a sharp emissivity peak at the solar cell band-gap while suppressing emission at lower frequencies. We show that, under a suitable light concentration condition, and with a reasonable area ratio between the emitter and absorber, a STPV system employing such absorber-emitter pair and a single-junction solar cell can attain efficiency that exceeds the Shockley-Queisser limit.

©2009 Optical Society of America

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  1. W. Shockley and H. J. Queisser, “Detailed Balance Limit of Efficiency of p-n Junction Solar Cells,” J. Appl. Phys. 32(3), 510–519 (1961).
  2. R. M. Swanson, “A proposed thermophotovoltaic solar energy conversion system,” Proc. IEEE 67(3), 446–447 (1979).
  3. W. Ruppel and P. Wurfel, “Upper limit for the conversion of solar energy,” IEEE Trans. Electron. Dev. 27(4), 877–882 (1980).
  4. W. Spirkl and H. Ries, “Solar thermophotovoltaics: An assessment,” J. Appl. Phys. 57(9), 4409–4414 (1985).
  5. P. T. Landsberg and P. Baruch, “The thermodynamics of the conversion of radiation energy for photovoltaics,” J. Phys. Math. Gen. 22(11), 1911–1926 (1989).
  6. T. K. Chaudhuri, “A solar thermophotovoltaic converter using Pbs photovoltaic cells,” Int. J. Energy Res. 16(6), 481–487 (1992).
  7. V. Badescu, “Thermodynamic theory of thermophotovoltaic solar energy conversion,” J. Appl. Phys. 90(12), 6476–6486 (2001).
  8. V. Badescu, “Upper bounds for solar thermophotovoltaic efficiency,” Renew. Energy 30(2), 211–225 (2005).
  9. N. P. Harder and P. Wurfel, “Theoretical limits of thermophotovoltaic solar energy conversion,” Semicond. Sci. Technol. 18(5), S151–S157 (2003).
  10. I. Tobias and A. Luque, “Ideal efficiency and potential of solar thermophotonic converters under optically and thermally concentrated power flux,” IEEE Trans. Electron. Dev. 49(11), 2024–2030 (2002).
  11. M. Florescu, H. Lee, I. Puscasu, M. Pralle, L. Florescu, D. Z. Ting, and J. P. Dowling, “Improving solar cell efficiency using photonic band-gap materials,” Sol. Energy Mater. Sol. Cells 91, 1599–1610 (2007).
  12. A. S. Vlasov, V. P. Khvostikov, O. A. Khvostikova, P. Y. Gazaryan, S. V. Sorokina, and V. M. Andreev, “TPV Systems with Solar Powered Tungsten Emitters,” AIP Conf. Proc. 890, 327–334 (2007).
  13. V. M. Andreev, V. P. Khvostikov, O. A. Khvostikova, A. S. Vlasov, P. Y. Gazaryan, N. A. Sadchikov, and V. D. Rumyantsev, Solar thermophotovoltaic system with high temperature tungsten emitter,” in Photovoltaic Specialists Conference, 2005. Conference Record of the Thirty-first IEEE (2005), pp. 671–674.
  14. K. W. Stone, N. S. Fatemi, and L. M. Garverick, “Operation and component testing of a solar thermophotovoltaic power system,” in Photovoltaic Specialists Conference, 1996, Conference Record of the Twenty Fifth IEEE (1996), pp. 1421–1424.
  15. H. Yugami, H. Sai, K. Nakamura, N. Nakagawa, and H. Ohtsubo, “Solar thermophotovoltaic using Al2O3Er3Al5O12 eutectic composite selective emitter,” in Photovoltaic Specialists Conference, 2000. Conference Record of the Twenty-Eighth IEEE (2000), pp. 1214–1217.
  16. D. L. Chan, M. Soljacić, and J. D. Joannopoulos, “Thermal emission and design in 2D-periodic metallic photonic crystal slabs,” Opt. Express 14(19), 8785–8796 (2006).
    [PubMed]
  17. E. Rephaeli and S. Fan, “Tungsten black absorber for solar light with wide angular operation range,” Appl. Phys. Lett. 92(21), 211107 (2008).
  18. Y. B. Chen and Z. M. Zhang, “Design of tungsten complex gratings for thermophotovoltaic radiators,” Opt. Commun. 269(2), 411–417 (2007).
  19. A. Heinzel, V. Boerner, A. Gombert, B. Blasi, V. Wittwer, and J. Luther, “Radiation filters and emitters for the NIR based on periodically structured metal surfaces,” J. Mod. Opt. 47, 2399–2419 (2000).
  20. I. Celanovic, N. Jovanovic, and J. Kassakian, “Two-dimensional tungsten photonic crystals as selective thermal emitters,” Appl. Phys. Lett. 92(19), 193101 (2008).
  21. H. Sai and H. Yugami, “Thermophotovoltaic generation with selective radiators based on tungsten surface gratings,” Appl. Phys. Lett. 85(16), 3399 (2004).
  22. S. Y. Lin, J. Moreno, and J. G. Fleming, “Three-dimensional photonic-crystal emitter for thermal photovoltaic power generation,” Appl. Phys. Lett. 83(2), 380 (2003).
  23. A. Narayanaswamy and G. Chen, “Thermal emission control with one-dimensional metallodielectric photonic crystals,” Phys. Rev. B 70(12), 125101 (2004).
  24. I. Celanovic, D. Perreault, and J. Kassakian, “Resonant-cavity enhanced thermal emission,” Phys. Rev. B 72(7), 075127 (2005).
  25. Y. Fink, J. N. Winn, S. Fan, C. Chen, J. Michel, J. D. Joannopoulos, and E. L. Thomas, “A dielectric omnidirectional reflector,” Science 282(5394), 1679–1682 (1998).
    [PubMed]
  26. S. G. Tikhodeev, A. L. Yablonskii, E. A. Muljarov, N. A. Gippius, and T. Ishihara, “Quasiguided modes and optical properties of photonic crystal slabs,” Phys. Rev. B 66(4), 045102 (2002).
  27. E. D. Palik, Handbook of Optical Constants of Solids, (Academic, New York, 1985).

2008 (2)

E. Rephaeli and S. Fan, “Tungsten black absorber for solar light with wide angular operation range,” Appl. Phys. Lett. 92(21), 211107 (2008).

I. Celanovic, N. Jovanovic, and J. Kassakian, “Two-dimensional tungsten photonic crystals as selective thermal emitters,” Appl. Phys. Lett. 92(19), 193101 (2008).

2007 (3)

Y. B. Chen and Z. M. Zhang, “Design of tungsten complex gratings for thermophotovoltaic radiators,” Opt. Commun. 269(2), 411–417 (2007).

M. Florescu, H. Lee, I. Puscasu, M. Pralle, L. Florescu, D. Z. Ting, and J. P. Dowling, “Improving solar cell efficiency using photonic band-gap materials,” Sol. Energy Mater. Sol. Cells 91, 1599–1610 (2007).

A. S. Vlasov, V. P. Khvostikov, O. A. Khvostikova, P. Y. Gazaryan, S. V. Sorokina, and V. M. Andreev, “TPV Systems with Solar Powered Tungsten Emitters,” AIP Conf. Proc. 890, 327–334 (2007).

2006 (1)

2005 (2)

V. Badescu, “Upper bounds for solar thermophotovoltaic efficiency,” Renew. Energy 30(2), 211–225 (2005).

I. Celanovic, D. Perreault, and J. Kassakian, “Resonant-cavity enhanced thermal emission,” Phys. Rev. B 72(7), 075127 (2005).

2004 (2)

H. Sai and H. Yugami, “Thermophotovoltaic generation with selective radiators based on tungsten surface gratings,” Appl. Phys. Lett. 85(16), 3399 (2004).

A. Narayanaswamy and G. Chen, “Thermal emission control with one-dimensional metallodielectric photonic crystals,” Phys. Rev. B 70(12), 125101 (2004).

2003 (2)

S. Y. Lin, J. Moreno, and J. G. Fleming, “Three-dimensional photonic-crystal emitter for thermal photovoltaic power generation,” Appl. Phys. Lett. 83(2), 380 (2003).

N. P. Harder and P. Wurfel, “Theoretical limits of thermophotovoltaic solar energy conversion,” Semicond. Sci. Technol. 18(5), S151–S157 (2003).

2002 (2)

I. Tobias and A. Luque, “Ideal efficiency and potential of solar thermophotonic converters under optically and thermally concentrated power flux,” IEEE Trans. Electron. Dev. 49(11), 2024–2030 (2002).

S. G. Tikhodeev, A. L. Yablonskii, E. A. Muljarov, N. A. Gippius, and T. Ishihara, “Quasiguided modes and optical properties of photonic crystal slabs,” Phys. Rev. B 66(4), 045102 (2002).

2001 (1)

V. Badescu, “Thermodynamic theory of thermophotovoltaic solar energy conversion,” J. Appl. Phys. 90(12), 6476–6486 (2001).

2000 (1)

A. Heinzel, V. Boerner, A. Gombert, B. Blasi, V. Wittwer, and J. Luther, “Radiation filters and emitters for the NIR based on periodically structured metal surfaces,” J. Mod. Opt. 47, 2399–2419 (2000).

1998 (1)

Y. Fink, J. N. Winn, S. Fan, C. Chen, J. Michel, J. D. Joannopoulos, and E. L. Thomas, “A dielectric omnidirectional reflector,” Science 282(5394), 1679–1682 (1998).
[PubMed]

1992 (1)

T. K. Chaudhuri, “A solar thermophotovoltaic converter using Pbs photovoltaic cells,” Int. J. Energy Res. 16(6), 481–487 (1992).

1989 (1)

P. T. Landsberg and P. Baruch, “The thermodynamics of the conversion of radiation energy for photovoltaics,” J. Phys. Math. Gen. 22(11), 1911–1926 (1989).

1985 (1)

W. Spirkl and H. Ries, “Solar thermophotovoltaics: An assessment,” J. Appl. Phys. 57(9), 4409–4414 (1985).

1980 (1)

W. Ruppel and P. Wurfel, “Upper limit for the conversion of solar energy,” IEEE Trans. Electron. Dev. 27(4), 877–882 (1980).

1979 (1)

R. M. Swanson, “A proposed thermophotovoltaic solar energy conversion system,” Proc. IEEE 67(3), 446–447 (1979).

1961 (1)

W. Shockley and H. J. Queisser, “Detailed Balance Limit of Efficiency of p-n Junction Solar Cells,” J. Appl. Phys. 32(3), 510–519 (1961).

Andreev, V. M.

A. S. Vlasov, V. P. Khvostikov, O. A. Khvostikova, P. Y. Gazaryan, S. V. Sorokina, and V. M. Andreev, “TPV Systems with Solar Powered Tungsten Emitters,” AIP Conf. Proc. 890, 327–334 (2007).

Badescu, V.

V. Badescu, “Upper bounds for solar thermophotovoltaic efficiency,” Renew. Energy 30(2), 211–225 (2005).

V. Badescu, “Thermodynamic theory of thermophotovoltaic solar energy conversion,” J. Appl. Phys. 90(12), 6476–6486 (2001).

Baruch, P.

P. T. Landsberg and P. Baruch, “The thermodynamics of the conversion of radiation energy for photovoltaics,” J. Phys. Math. Gen. 22(11), 1911–1926 (1989).

Blasi, B.

A. Heinzel, V. Boerner, A. Gombert, B. Blasi, V. Wittwer, and J. Luther, “Radiation filters and emitters for the NIR based on periodically structured metal surfaces,” J. Mod. Opt. 47, 2399–2419 (2000).

Boerner, V.

A. Heinzel, V. Boerner, A. Gombert, B. Blasi, V. Wittwer, and J. Luther, “Radiation filters and emitters for the NIR based on periodically structured metal surfaces,” J. Mod. Opt. 47, 2399–2419 (2000).

Celanovic, I.

I. Celanovic, N. Jovanovic, and J. Kassakian, “Two-dimensional tungsten photonic crystals as selective thermal emitters,” Appl. Phys. Lett. 92(19), 193101 (2008).

I. Celanovic, D. Perreault, and J. Kassakian, “Resonant-cavity enhanced thermal emission,” Phys. Rev. B 72(7), 075127 (2005).

Chan, D. L.

Chaudhuri, T. K.

T. K. Chaudhuri, “A solar thermophotovoltaic converter using Pbs photovoltaic cells,” Int. J. Energy Res. 16(6), 481–487 (1992).

Chen, C.

Y. Fink, J. N. Winn, S. Fan, C. Chen, J. Michel, J. D. Joannopoulos, and E. L. Thomas, “A dielectric omnidirectional reflector,” Science 282(5394), 1679–1682 (1998).
[PubMed]

Chen, G.

A. Narayanaswamy and G. Chen, “Thermal emission control with one-dimensional metallodielectric photonic crystals,” Phys. Rev. B 70(12), 125101 (2004).

Chen, Y. B.

Y. B. Chen and Z. M. Zhang, “Design of tungsten complex gratings for thermophotovoltaic radiators,” Opt. Commun. 269(2), 411–417 (2007).

Dowling, J. P.

M. Florescu, H. Lee, I. Puscasu, M. Pralle, L. Florescu, D. Z. Ting, and J. P. Dowling, “Improving solar cell efficiency using photonic band-gap materials,” Sol. Energy Mater. Sol. Cells 91, 1599–1610 (2007).

Fan, S.

E. Rephaeli and S. Fan, “Tungsten black absorber for solar light with wide angular operation range,” Appl. Phys. Lett. 92(21), 211107 (2008).

Y. Fink, J. N. Winn, S. Fan, C. Chen, J. Michel, J. D. Joannopoulos, and E. L. Thomas, “A dielectric omnidirectional reflector,” Science 282(5394), 1679–1682 (1998).
[PubMed]

Fink, Y.

Y. Fink, J. N. Winn, S. Fan, C. Chen, J. Michel, J. D. Joannopoulos, and E. L. Thomas, “A dielectric omnidirectional reflector,” Science 282(5394), 1679–1682 (1998).
[PubMed]

Fleming, J. G.

S. Y. Lin, J. Moreno, and J. G. Fleming, “Three-dimensional photonic-crystal emitter for thermal photovoltaic power generation,” Appl. Phys. Lett. 83(2), 380 (2003).

Florescu, L.

M. Florescu, H. Lee, I. Puscasu, M. Pralle, L. Florescu, D. Z. Ting, and J. P. Dowling, “Improving solar cell efficiency using photonic band-gap materials,” Sol. Energy Mater. Sol. Cells 91, 1599–1610 (2007).

Florescu, M.

M. Florescu, H. Lee, I. Puscasu, M. Pralle, L. Florescu, D. Z. Ting, and J. P. Dowling, “Improving solar cell efficiency using photonic band-gap materials,” Sol. Energy Mater. Sol. Cells 91, 1599–1610 (2007).

Gazaryan, P. Y.

A. S. Vlasov, V. P. Khvostikov, O. A. Khvostikova, P. Y. Gazaryan, S. V. Sorokina, and V. M. Andreev, “TPV Systems with Solar Powered Tungsten Emitters,” AIP Conf. Proc. 890, 327–334 (2007).

Gippius, N. A.

S. G. Tikhodeev, A. L. Yablonskii, E. A. Muljarov, N. A. Gippius, and T. Ishihara, “Quasiguided modes and optical properties of photonic crystal slabs,” Phys. Rev. B 66(4), 045102 (2002).

Gombert, A.

A. Heinzel, V. Boerner, A. Gombert, B. Blasi, V. Wittwer, and J. Luther, “Radiation filters and emitters for the NIR based on periodically structured metal surfaces,” J. Mod. Opt. 47, 2399–2419 (2000).

Harder, N. P.

N. P. Harder and P. Wurfel, “Theoretical limits of thermophotovoltaic solar energy conversion,” Semicond. Sci. Technol. 18(5), S151–S157 (2003).

Heinzel, A.

A. Heinzel, V. Boerner, A. Gombert, B. Blasi, V. Wittwer, and J. Luther, “Radiation filters and emitters for the NIR based on periodically structured metal surfaces,” J. Mod. Opt. 47, 2399–2419 (2000).

Ishihara, T.

S. G. Tikhodeev, A. L. Yablonskii, E. A. Muljarov, N. A. Gippius, and T. Ishihara, “Quasiguided modes and optical properties of photonic crystal slabs,” Phys. Rev. B 66(4), 045102 (2002).

Joannopoulos, J. D.

D. L. Chan, M. Soljacić, and J. D. Joannopoulos, “Thermal emission and design in 2D-periodic metallic photonic crystal slabs,” Opt. Express 14(19), 8785–8796 (2006).
[PubMed]

Y. Fink, J. N. Winn, S. Fan, C. Chen, J. Michel, J. D. Joannopoulos, and E. L. Thomas, “A dielectric omnidirectional reflector,” Science 282(5394), 1679–1682 (1998).
[PubMed]

Jovanovic, N.

I. Celanovic, N. Jovanovic, and J. Kassakian, “Two-dimensional tungsten photonic crystals as selective thermal emitters,” Appl. Phys. Lett. 92(19), 193101 (2008).

Kassakian, J.

I. Celanovic, N. Jovanovic, and J. Kassakian, “Two-dimensional tungsten photonic crystals as selective thermal emitters,” Appl. Phys. Lett. 92(19), 193101 (2008).

I. Celanovic, D. Perreault, and J. Kassakian, “Resonant-cavity enhanced thermal emission,” Phys. Rev. B 72(7), 075127 (2005).

Khvostikov, V. P.

A. S. Vlasov, V. P. Khvostikov, O. A. Khvostikova, P. Y. Gazaryan, S. V. Sorokina, and V. M. Andreev, “TPV Systems with Solar Powered Tungsten Emitters,” AIP Conf. Proc. 890, 327–334 (2007).

Khvostikova, O. A.

A. S. Vlasov, V. P. Khvostikov, O. A. Khvostikova, P. Y. Gazaryan, S. V. Sorokina, and V. M. Andreev, “TPV Systems with Solar Powered Tungsten Emitters,” AIP Conf. Proc. 890, 327–334 (2007).

Landsberg, P. T.

P. T. Landsberg and P. Baruch, “The thermodynamics of the conversion of radiation energy for photovoltaics,” J. Phys. Math. Gen. 22(11), 1911–1926 (1989).

Lee, H.

M. Florescu, H. Lee, I. Puscasu, M. Pralle, L. Florescu, D. Z. Ting, and J. P. Dowling, “Improving solar cell efficiency using photonic band-gap materials,” Sol. Energy Mater. Sol. Cells 91, 1599–1610 (2007).

Lin, S. Y.

S. Y. Lin, J. Moreno, and J. G. Fleming, “Three-dimensional photonic-crystal emitter for thermal photovoltaic power generation,” Appl. Phys. Lett. 83(2), 380 (2003).

Luque, A.

I. Tobias and A. Luque, “Ideal efficiency and potential of solar thermophotonic converters under optically and thermally concentrated power flux,” IEEE Trans. Electron. Dev. 49(11), 2024–2030 (2002).

Luther, J.

A. Heinzel, V. Boerner, A. Gombert, B. Blasi, V. Wittwer, and J. Luther, “Radiation filters and emitters for the NIR based on periodically structured metal surfaces,” J. Mod. Opt. 47, 2399–2419 (2000).

Michel, J.

Y. Fink, J. N. Winn, S. Fan, C. Chen, J. Michel, J. D. Joannopoulos, and E. L. Thomas, “A dielectric omnidirectional reflector,” Science 282(5394), 1679–1682 (1998).
[PubMed]

Moreno, J.

S. Y. Lin, J. Moreno, and J. G. Fleming, “Three-dimensional photonic-crystal emitter for thermal photovoltaic power generation,” Appl. Phys. Lett. 83(2), 380 (2003).

Muljarov, E. A.

S. G. Tikhodeev, A. L. Yablonskii, E. A. Muljarov, N. A. Gippius, and T. Ishihara, “Quasiguided modes and optical properties of photonic crystal slabs,” Phys. Rev. B 66(4), 045102 (2002).

Narayanaswamy, A.

A. Narayanaswamy and G. Chen, “Thermal emission control with one-dimensional metallodielectric photonic crystals,” Phys. Rev. B 70(12), 125101 (2004).

Perreault, D.

I. Celanovic, D. Perreault, and J. Kassakian, “Resonant-cavity enhanced thermal emission,” Phys. Rev. B 72(7), 075127 (2005).

Pralle, M.

M. Florescu, H. Lee, I. Puscasu, M. Pralle, L. Florescu, D. Z. Ting, and J. P. Dowling, “Improving solar cell efficiency using photonic band-gap materials,” Sol. Energy Mater. Sol. Cells 91, 1599–1610 (2007).

Puscasu, I.

M. Florescu, H. Lee, I. Puscasu, M. Pralle, L. Florescu, D. Z. Ting, and J. P. Dowling, “Improving solar cell efficiency using photonic band-gap materials,” Sol. Energy Mater. Sol. Cells 91, 1599–1610 (2007).

Queisser, H. J.

W. Shockley and H. J. Queisser, “Detailed Balance Limit of Efficiency of p-n Junction Solar Cells,” J. Appl. Phys. 32(3), 510–519 (1961).

Rephaeli, E.

E. Rephaeli and S. Fan, “Tungsten black absorber for solar light with wide angular operation range,” Appl. Phys. Lett. 92(21), 211107 (2008).

Ries, H.

W. Spirkl and H. Ries, “Solar thermophotovoltaics: An assessment,” J. Appl. Phys. 57(9), 4409–4414 (1985).

Ruppel, W.

W. Ruppel and P. Wurfel, “Upper limit for the conversion of solar energy,” IEEE Trans. Electron. Dev. 27(4), 877–882 (1980).

Sai, H.

H. Sai and H. Yugami, “Thermophotovoltaic generation with selective radiators based on tungsten surface gratings,” Appl. Phys. Lett. 85(16), 3399 (2004).

Shockley, W.

W. Shockley and H. J. Queisser, “Detailed Balance Limit of Efficiency of p-n Junction Solar Cells,” J. Appl. Phys. 32(3), 510–519 (1961).

Soljacic, M.

Sorokina, S. V.

A. S. Vlasov, V. P. Khvostikov, O. A. Khvostikova, P. Y. Gazaryan, S. V. Sorokina, and V. M. Andreev, “TPV Systems with Solar Powered Tungsten Emitters,” AIP Conf. Proc. 890, 327–334 (2007).

Spirkl, W.

W. Spirkl and H. Ries, “Solar thermophotovoltaics: An assessment,” J. Appl. Phys. 57(9), 4409–4414 (1985).

Swanson, R. M.

R. M. Swanson, “A proposed thermophotovoltaic solar energy conversion system,” Proc. IEEE 67(3), 446–447 (1979).

Thomas, E. L.

Y. Fink, J. N. Winn, S. Fan, C. Chen, J. Michel, J. D. Joannopoulos, and E. L. Thomas, “A dielectric omnidirectional reflector,” Science 282(5394), 1679–1682 (1998).
[PubMed]

Tikhodeev, S. G.

S. G. Tikhodeev, A. L. Yablonskii, E. A. Muljarov, N. A. Gippius, and T. Ishihara, “Quasiguided modes and optical properties of photonic crystal slabs,” Phys. Rev. B 66(4), 045102 (2002).

Ting, D. Z.

M. Florescu, H. Lee, I. Puscasu, M. Pralle, L. Florescu, D. Z. Ting, and J. P. Dowling, “Improving solar cell efficiency using photonic band-gap materials,” Sol. Energy Mater. Sol. Cells 91, 1599–1610 (2007).

Tobias, I.

I. Tobias and A. Luque, “Ideal efficiency and potential of solar thermophotonic converters under optically and thermally concentrated power flux,” IEEE Trans. Electron. Dev. 49(11), 2024–2030 (2002).

Vlasov, A. S.

A. S. Vlasov, V. P. Khvostikov, O. A. Khvostikova, P. Y. Gazaryan, S. V. Sorokina, and V. M. Andreev, “TPV Systems with Solar Powered Tungsten Emitters,” AIP Conf. Proc. 890, 327–334 (2007).

Winn, J. N.

Y. Fink, J. N. Winn, S. Fan, C. Chen, J. Michel, J. D. Joannopoulos, and E. L. Thomas, “A dielectric omnidirectional reflector,” Science 282(5394), 1679–1682 (1998).
[PubMed]

Wittwer, V.

A. Heinzel, V. Boerner, A. Gombert, B. Blasi, V. Wittwer, and J. Luther, “Radiation filters and emitters for the NIR based on periodically structured metal surfaces,” J. Mod. Opt. 47, 2399–2419 (2000).

Wurfel, P.

N. P. Harder and P. Wurfel, “Theoretical limits of thermophotovoltaic solar energy conversion,” Semicond. Sci. Technol. 18(5), S151–S157 (2003).

W. Ruppel and P. Wurfel, “Upper limit for the conversion of solar energy,” IEEE Trans. Electron. Dev. 27(4), 877–882 (1980).

Yablonskii, A. L.

S. G. Tikhodeev, A. L. Yablonskii, E. A. Muljarov, N. A. Gippius, and T. Ishihara, “Quasiguided modes and optical properties of photonic crystal slabs,” Phys. Rev. B 66(4), 045102 (2002).

Yugami, H.

H. Sai and H. Yugami, “Thermophotovoltaic generation with selective radiators based on tungsten surface gratings,” Appl. Phys. Lett. 85(16), 3399 (2004).

Zhang, Z. M.

Y. B. Chen and Z. M. Zhang, “Design of tungsten complex gratings for thermophotovoltaic radiators,” Opt. Commun. 269(2), 411–417 (2007).

AIP Conf. Proc. (1)

A. S. Vlasov, V. P. Khvostikov, O. A. Khvostikova, P. Y. Gazaryan, S. V. Sorokina, and V. M. Andreev, “TPV Systems with Solar Powered Tungsten Emitters,” AIP Conf. Proc. 890, 327–334 (2007).

Appl. Phys. Lett. (4)

E. Rephaeli and S. Fan, “Tungsten black absorber for solar light with wide angular operation range,” Appl. Phys. Lett. 92(21), 211107 (2008).

I. Celanovic, N. Jovanovic, and J. Kassakian, “Two-dimensional tungsten photonic crystals as selective thermal emitters,” Appl. Phys. Lett. 92(19), 193101 (2008).

H. Sai and H. Yugami, “Thermophotovoltaic generation with selective radiators based on tungsten surface gratings,” Appl. Phys. Lett. 85(16), 3399 (2004).

S. Y. Lin, J. Moreno, and J. G. Fleming, “Three-dimensional photonic-crystal emitter for thermal photovoltaic power generation,” Appl. Phys. Lett. 83(2), 380 (2003).

IEEE Trans. Electron. Dev. (2)

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Figures (7)

Fig. 1
Fig. 1

(a) Schematic of STPV system. (b) Illustration of tungsten pyramid absorber (period: 250nm, height: 500nm.) (c) Illustration of tungsten slab emitter, including 10 layers of alternating Si/SiO2 . Layer thicknesses, beginning with the air gap, and in the unit of μm are: [0.771, 0.193, 0.145, 0.219, 0.215, 0.218, 0.210, 0.198, 0.426, 0.178, 0.249]. Blue indicates Si , red indicates SiO2

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Fig. 2
Fig. 2

Intermediate efficiency ( ηI ) vs. solar concentration (Ns) and equilibrium temperature (T) for: (a) Blackbody absorber. (b) Pyramid array absorber in Fig. 1(b), assuming an ideal solar spectrum with the solar temperature set at 6000K.

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Fig. 3
Fig. 3

(a) Absorptivity of tungsten pyramid absorber at normal incidence (red curve), and scaled Atomic Mass 1.5 spectral radiance (gray curve). (b) Absorber efficiency of tungsten pyramid absorber vs. concentration, for the case of an ideal blackbody spectral radiance at 6000K (blue curve), and Atomic Mass 1.5 spectral radiance (green curve).

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Fig. 4
Fig. 4

Solar cell ηSC (blue curve) and its three components: U(T,Eg) (dashed curve), υ(T,Eg) (dotted curve), and m(Vop) (dashed-dotted curve), for the case of an idealized emitter at T=2000K with emissivity: εideal(ΔE)=Θ(E−Eg)−Θ(E−Eg−ΔE) with Eg=0.7[eV]

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Fig. 5
Fig. 5

Properties of the emitter, shown in Fig. 1(c), that consists of a Tungsten slab and a multilayer dielectric stack. (a) Emissivity (averaged over both polarizations) vs. polar angle and energy. (b) The black curve is the emissivity of our emitter structure at normal incidence (θ = 0). The dashed black curve is the emissivity at normal incidence of a tungsten crossed grating structure ( 1.5μm period; 1μm hole width; 400 nm hole depth). The red curve is the scaled spectral radiance of a 2000K blackbody.

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Fig. 6
Fig. 6

(a) Efficiency ηSC of a 0.7[eV] solar cell exposed to radiation from our emitter shown in Fig. 1(c). (b) STPV system efficiency vs. temperature and concentration (black contour indicates the SQ limit at 41%.) (c) System efficiency vs. concentration, blue curve: maximum STPV system efficiency using our absorber and emitter pair and a 0.7[eV] solar cell (Ideal 6000K blackbody—solid line; AM 1.5 spectrum—dashed line); Grey curves: Dashed–efficiency of a 0.7[eV] cell; Dashed-dotted–efficiency of a 1.1[eV] cell, both when directly exposed to sunlight; Black line: theoretical limit of 41% in SQ analysis. (d) STPV system efficiency vs. area ratio and concentration (black contour indicates the SQ limit.)

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Fig. 7
Fig. 7

Illustration of STPV intermediate in a cylindrical geometry. The cylinders’ top base serves as absorber while its side serves as emitter. Magnifications show the systems’ microscopic structure.

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Equations (15)

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Aa[Js(Ns)−Ja(T)]=AeJe(T)
Js(Ns)=∫02πdφ∫0θCdθsinθcosθ∫0∞dEεa(E,θ,φ)Is(E)
Ja(T)=∫02πdφ∫0π/2dθsin(θ)cos(θ)∫0∞dEεa(E,θ,φ)IBB(E,T)
Je(T)=∫02πdφ∫0π/2dθsin(θ)cos(θ)∫0∞dEεe(E,θ,φ)IBB(E,T)
ηI=AeAaJeJs=βJeJs
ηI=Js−JaJs=1−JaJs
ηIBB(T,Ns)=1−πT4NsΩsTs4
ηSC=U(T,Eg)υ(T,Eg)m(Vop)
U(T,Eg)=∫0π/2dθsin(2θ)∫Eg∞EgdEEεe(E,θ)IBB(E,T)∫0π/2dθsin(2θ)∫0∞dEεe(E,θ)IBB(E,T)
υ(Eg,T)=VopVg=VCVgln(fQe(T,Eg)Qc(Tc,Eg))
Qe(T,Eg)=2πh3c2∫0π/2sin(2θ)dθ∫Eg∞εe(E,θ)E2dEexp(E/kBT)−1
Qc(Tc,Eg)=2πh3c2∫Eg∞E2dEexp(E/kBTc)−1
m(Vop)=zm2(1+zm−e−zm)(zm+ln(1+zm))
zop=zm+ln(1+zm)
εideal(ΔE)={ 1; Eg<E<Eg+ΔE0; everywhere else  

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