Thermophotovoltaic energy conversion using photonic bandgap selective emitters

Patent · Tue Jun 24 00:00:00 EDT 2003

OSTI ID:958115

Gee, James M ^[1]; Lin, Shawn-Yu ^[1]; Fleming, James G ^[1]; Moreno, James B ^[1]

---

1. Albuquerque, NM

A method for thermophotovoltaic generation of electricity comprises heating a metallic photonic crystal to provide selective emission of radiation that is matched to the peak spectral response of a photovoltaic cell that converts the radiation to electricity. The use of a refractory metal, such as tungsten, for the photonic crystal enables high temperature operation for high radiant flux and high dielectric contrast for a full 3D photonic bandgap, preferable for efficient thermophotovoltaic energy conversion.

• Research Organization: Sandia National Lab. (SNL-NM), Albuquerque, NM (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• DOE Contract Number: AC04-94AL85000
• Assignee: Sandia Corporation (Albuquerque, NM)
• Patent Number(s): 6,583,350
• Application Number: 10/114,820; TRN: US201002%%317
• OSTI ID: 958115
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

14 SOLAR ENERGY
36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
DIELECTRIC MATERIALS
ELECTRICITY
ENERGY CONVERSION
HEATING
PHOTOVOLTAIC CELLS
RADIATIONS
REFRACTORY METALS
SPECTRAL RESPONSE
TUNGSTEN