Thermovoltaic in-situ mirror cell

Patent Application · Sun Dec 31 00:00:00 EST 1995

OSTI ID:463636

Campbell, B C

A photovoltaic cell used in a direct energy conversion generator for converting heat to electricity includes a reflective layer disposed within the cell between the active layers of the cell and the cell substrate. The reflective layer reflects photons of low energy back to a photon producing emitter for reabsorption by the emitter, or reflects photons with energy greater than the cell bandgap back to the cell active layers for conversion into electricity. The reflective layer can comprise a reflective metal such as gold while the substrate can comprise a heavily doped silicon or a metal.

• Research Organization: KAPL, Inc., Schenectady, NY (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: AC12-76SN00052
• Assignee: US Dept. of Energy, Washington, DC (United States)
• Patent Number(s): PATENTS-US-A8412039
• Application Number: ON: DE97003863; PAN: 8-412,039; TRN: AHC29709%%73
• OSTI ID: 463636
• Resource Relation: Other Information: PBD: 1995
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

30 DIRECT ENERGY CONVERSION
THERMOPHOTOVOLTAIC CONVERTERS
THERMOPHOTOVOLTAIC CONVERSION
DESIGN
HEAT SOURCES
REFLECTIVITY
PHOTON EMISSION
SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES
INFRARED RADIATION