Toward high-energy-density, high-efficiency, and moderate-temperature chip-scale thermophotovoltaics
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Chan-2013-Toward high-energy-d.pdf
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Author(s)
Pilawa-Podgurski, R. C. N.
Chan, Walker R.
Bermel, Peter A.
Marton, Christopher Henry
Jensen, Klavs F.
Senkevich, Jay
Joannopoulos, John D.
Soljacic, Marin
Celanovic, Ivan
Date Issued
February 2013
Journal
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
Publisher
National Academy of Sciences (U.S.)
Citation
Chan, W. R., P. Bermel, R. C. N. Pilawa-Podgurski, C. H. Marton, K. F. Jensen, J. J. Senkevich, J. D. Joannopoulos, M. Soljacic, and I. Celanovic. “Toward high-energy-density, high-efficiency, and moderate-temperature chip-scale thermophotovoltaics.” Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 110, no. 14 (April 2, 2013): 5309-5314.
Version
Final published version
Abstract
The challenging problem of ultra-high-energy-density, high-efficiency, and small-scale portable power generation is addressed here using a distinctive thermophotovoltaic energy conversion mechanism and chip-based system design, which we name the microthermophotovoltaic (μTPV) generator. The approach is predicted to be capable of up to 32% efficient heat-to-electricity conversion within a millimeter-scale form factor. Although considerable technological barriers need to be overcome to reach full performance, we have performed a robust experimental demonstration that validates the theoretical framework and the key system components. Even with a much-simplified μTPV system design with theoretical efficiency prediction of 2.7%, we experimentally demonstrate 2.5% efficiency. The μTPV experimental system that was built and tested comprises a silicon propane microcombustor, an integrated high-temperature photonic crystal selective thermal emitter, four 0.55-eV GaInAsSb thermophotovoltaic diodes, and an ultra-high-efficiency maximum power-point tracking power electronics converter. The system was demonstrated to operate up to 800 °C (silicon microcombustor temperature) with an input thermal power of 13.7 W, generating 344 mW of electric power over a 1-cm[superscript 2] area.
MIT Department
Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Institute for Soldier Nanotechnologies
MIT Materials Research Laboratory
Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Department of Chemical Engineering
Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science
Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Department of Physics
Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Research Laboratory of Electronics
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Article is made available in accordance with the publisher's policy and may be subject to US copyright law. Please refer to the publisher's site for terms of use.
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DOI of Published Version
https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1301004110
