Thermophotovoltaic in-situ mirror cell

Patent · Wed Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1997

OSTI ID:870938

Campbell, Brian C ^[1]

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1. Scotia, NY

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 heavily doped silicon or a metal.

• Research Organization: Knolls Atomic Power Laboratory (KAPL), Niskayuna, NY (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: AC12-76SN00052
• Assignee: United States of America as represented by United States (Washington, DC)
• Patent Number(s): US 5626687
• OSTI ID: 870938
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

thermophotovoltaic
in-situ
mirror
cell
photovoltaic
direct
energy
conversion
generator
converting
heat
electricity
reflective
layer
disposed
active
layers
substrate
reflects
photons
photon
producing
emitter
reabsorption
bandgap
comprise
metal
gold
heavily
doped
silicon
layer disposed
active layers
reflective metal
heavily doped
energy conversion
photovoltaic cell
active layer
doped silicon
reflective layer
mirror cell
converting heat
direct energy
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