High Efficiency Selective Emitter Matched Thermophotovoltaic Cell Module

The Antimonides Group at Structured Materials Industries (SMI) has recently demonstrated high-efficiency InGaAsSb TPV cells with a cut-off wavelengths of 2.4 microns and is developing 1.8/2.4 micron tandem TPV and 2.7 InAsSbP TPV cells. The overallefficiency of TPV modules could be greatly improved by spectrally matching the bandgap of the cell to the output of a selective emitter. SMI proposes to develop a thermophotovoltaic converter module based on the combination of a high efficiency TPV celland a rare-earth doped ceramic selective emitter. In the Phase I program we will develop a most promising selective emitter material and design a TPV cell to match it in Phase II the emitter and cell will be combined in a module and packaged forcommercialization. This program will provide cost-effective, high-efficiency TPV modules for space power and other commercial and military applications. Specific applications include combustion-fueled portable battery chargers, co-generation ofelectricity from furnaces and nuclear reactors, and power for deep space missions utilizing radioisotope heat sources.